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SINGAPORE - Local football legend Dollah Kassim was rushed to hospital last night after collapsing during the curtain raiser of the Sultan of Selangor's Cup at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
The 60-year-old former Singapore international is warded at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), where he is understood to have undergone emergency surgery last night.
At press time, he was said to be unconscious but in a stable condition.
One of the most-loved players to have worn the No 10 shirt for Singapore, the man known as the "Gelek King" because of his dribbling skills famously won the Malaysia Cup for Singapore in 1977 after beating Penang 3-2.
Last night, Dollah played the first 10 minutes of the match between Singapore veterans and their Selangor counterparts. He looked uncomfortable on the pitch and collapsed on the sidelines after being substituted.
The veterans' game ended 1-1 at full-time, with Singapore winning 4-1 on penalties.
The doctor at the scene said it was a "cardiac event", according to sources. Paramedics had to resuscitate Dollah at the pitch side and in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
He arrived at TTSH at 7.20pm and was sent to the Invasive Cardiac Laboratory.
At about 10pm, former Singapore international Ho Kwang Hock, a friend of the family, revealed that he was out of surgery and in a stable condition, but had yet to regain consciousness. He is in the Intensive Care Unit.
Dollah's son and daughter, who are both in their 20s, were understandably distraught.
Dollah is not the first veteran footballer to have collapsed during a match.
In August 2003, Ali Bakar, 56, died of heart failure during a friendly between Singaporean and Malaysian ex-internationals in the Sultan's Gold Cup at Tampines Stadium.
In May 2006, former Singapore international S Rajagopal, who was in his 50s, suffered a mild heart attack during a Singapore Veterans versus Selangor Veterans match at the National Stadium. He was on the pitch for 5 minutes when he collapsed, complaining of breathlessness.
The Football Association of Singapore said in a statement that "all the players in the Singapore Veterans team who reported for the game were well and were eagerly looking forward to the game".
- CNA/ir/ls
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