Victoria School
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SSS Profile: Amsyar: I'm no heroJuly 19, 2012 - 12:25am
By:
Nicholas Neo
TNP PICTURE: BENJAMIN SEETOR
IT WAS the National Schools A Division football final last May.
With the score locked at 0-0, things were not looking rosy for favourites Meridian Junior College (MJC).
For 30 minutes, the defending champions just couldn’t find a way to break down the stubborn St Andrew’s Junior College.
Then, to thunderous applause from the stands, Mohd Amsyar Omar Abdullah made his appearance as a substitute, despite an injured shoulder.
What an impact he made. The MJC striker netted two goals in the space of five minutes, won his team their fifth title, and bagged the Man of the Match award in the process.
Deservingly, his feat of scoring his first goals at the Jalan Besar Stadium also earned the 19-year-old a nomination for The New Paper’s School Sports Star Award brought to you by H-TWO-O.
Said Amsyar: “This being my final year, I was desperate to leave an impression on my school.
“The reception I got from the crowd was really heartwarming. I never knew the extent of the support I had until then.
“Before I came on, I told myself that I couldn’t let down the school. So, I went out and gave everything I had.”
Just weeks before, Amsyar had badly bruised his shoulder during the semi-final match against Anglo-Chinese Junior College, and he only managed to make the final after intensive physiotherapy.
It wasn’t the first time had saved his team.
In last year’s final, his team’s goalkeeper Daniel Lightfoot was sent off in the second half.
Recalled Amsyar: “Everyone was in shock and Daniel was walking off the pitch crying.”
With the reserve goalkeeper not feeling well, vice-captain Amsyar volunteered to don the gloves.
Despite playing in an unfamiliar position, he helped MJC win the final 1-0.
After his heroics, his teammates have jokingly called him “the legend” and “superstar”.
Team captain Mohd Naufal Nur Hakim said: “If there’s one thing about Amsyar, it’s that he’s really a fighter.”
Good example
His coach, former S-League player Fabio da Silva, said: “Amsyar has been a very good example. He never misses training, he is never late, and he does his own training (outside of the team’s schedule).
“I can see great desire in his heart to become a good footballer.”
However, Amsyar chooses to stay grounded.
“I’m no hero, I’m just a boy who wants to play football,” he said. “To be honest, I can’t be singled out for any praise. It’s a team game, and my teammates helped me as much as I helped them.”
Growing up, Amsyar was surrounded by a sporting family.
His sister, Nur Amelia, plays netball and was a nominee of the TNP Award last year.
His father and grandfather were amateur footballers, and it was his dad who introduced him to the sport when he was six.
His uncle, Syed Othman, was a former teammates of football legend Fandi Ahmad. In fact, Amsyar has a picture of Fandi holding him as a toddler.
However, Amsyar’s career wasn’t all smooth sailing.
In 2010, he was close to registering for the National Football Academy Under-17 team, but had to pull out due to his parent’s objections.
He said: “My parents and I had a discussion, and they were worried (about my studies). So I had to give that up.”
His parents’ concern was not unjustified.
When he entered MJC, the former Victoria School student admitted to facing a “culture shock” and he failed his First Year.
But that only made Amsyar more determined to succeed.
To concentrate on his studies, Amsyar declined to join Nike’s The Chance talent search competition this year. He also declined an offer to join Hougang United’s Prime League squad.
Besides his love for football, the Manchester United fan also has a penchant for all things wild.
He explained why his non-football role model is the late wildlife expert Steve Irwin: “I learnt a lot from him, and watching his show really inspired me to be more interested in the topic.
“Hopefully, after my A Levels, I can do some volunteer work at Acres (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society)or the Singapore Zoo.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yiFL5dGpxl4 -
Keeping the flag unfurled...
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http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h372/manu-123/vsflag-2.jpg\">
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Victoria School's 136th Speech Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAch6t-hka8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFf8hB55ma4 -
Speech Day Guest-of-Honour and old boy, Minister of State Teo Ser Luck meeting with Sec 2 boys.
![](\"http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h372/manu-123/vs-teosl0-4.jpg\")
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July 23, 2012, 8:00 AM SGT.2012
Olympic Profile: Gary Yeo.
By Shibani Mahtani
With the London Olympics fast upon us, SEA Real Time introduces the athletes who will represent the region at the 2012 Summer Games. Come back for regularly for our profiles of the Olympians.
Singapore Sports Council
Singaporean sprinter Gary Yeo.Gary Yeo
Event: 100-meter sprint
Born: Aug. 30, 1986
Career
Gary Yeo once entertained thoughts of joining Singapore’s armed forces or police force. But he decided otherwise in favor of athletics after two years of mandatory conscription, a requirement for all males living in the city-state once they turn 18.
Now 25, Yeo is considered one of the fastest men in the region, with two silver medals from last year’s Southeast Asian Games to his name. Currently training in Japan, he is about to make his Olympic debut, representing Singapore in the 100-meter sprint.
Having first competed in regional sporting events in 2004, Yeo didn’t always have dreams of competing in front of stadiums full of cheering supporters. In Yeo’s school in Singapore, many of his classmates were athletes and happened to “rope [him] into the sport.” His coaches along the way saw potential and convinced him to pursue athletics competitively.
Now at the Singapore Management University studying business management, Yeo still does not consider himself a “professional athlete.” But he has participated in regional competitions for years and strives to improve his own personal best time (10.46 seconds) in Singapore. Bettering this time–ideally going below 10.40 seconds–is his key goal at the upcoming games.
Singapore’s record (10.37 seconds) in a men’s 100-meter sprint is held by celebrated athlete U.K. Shyam from 2001 – still the fastest-ever Southeast Asia Games silver medal timing.
Having trained in Japan for the past month, Yeo says he has been soaking up all he can from professional athletes, learning how he can prepare himself mentally for the Olympics. “The atmosphere would be more charged up [than other competitions], with the whole world looking on,” he said, adding that the biggest challenge would be London’s cool weather – even in the summer months – compared to Singapore’s tropical heat and humidity, as well as the time difference between the two countries.
Yeo notes that pursuing athletics, particularly for Singaporean males, isn’t always the easiest path, particularly with a gap in training created by two years of military service, which he says is “unkind to athletes.” He credits his success to the support of his coaches and his family, as well as the flexibility of his university to plan his lessons and examination dates around his training schedule and competitions.
Besides fulfilling his own personal goals in London, Yeo also hopes to meet global sporting stars and looks forward to the thrill of competing in front of a full stadium.
Memorable quote:
“I am thankful for all the coaches that I trained under as I learned a lot from all of them. Each of them has affected me along the years I have spent in the sport and I still keep in touch with them… It is an honor and a dream to be chosen to represent Singapore for the Olympics.” -
VS added the C Div floorball title to the B Div title it won earlier this year, beating Northland Sec 12-2 in the final.
VS has now won the C Division title in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012.
VS won all its 11 matches, scoring 168 goals and letting in only 25.![](\"http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h372/manu-123/db4be9e7.jpg\")
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Sec 1 and Sec 2 boys in the Inter-school Dragonboat Racing Championship
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A 300-strong team of students from Victoria School and Cedar Girls' Secondary School will form the 2012 National Day Parade Combined School Choir. Catch them live on 9 Aug!
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Combined schools choir returns to this year's National Day Parade
By Hetty Musfirah | Posted: 04 August 2012 1906 hrs
SINGAPORE: This year's National Day Parade will see the return of the combined school choir after an absence in 2011.
The combined school choir, a 300-strong team of students from Victoria School and Cedar Girls secondary school, will be belting new songs in the four official languages this year.
For some, being in the choir means stepping out of their comfort zone.
Choir member Nur Jannah Mohd Kamaruddin said: \"It is a real challenge for me, so usually when I'm at home, I'll just watch TV and I'll sing to get used to performing on stage.\"
Another choir member, Nicholas Tay, said: \"Memorising the dance moves and coordinating singing and dancing together is quite hard.\"
Conductor Lim Hwee Sian admits it is a challenging repertoire this year, as the Malay, Mandarin and Tamil songs are not those commonly heard in past National Day Parades.
\"Through learning the songs and getting their friend to teach them and they understand a little bit more about the language, about the pronunciation and the different culture of the different ethnic groups,\" she said.
\"A lot of the audience loves to have the choir, because mass singing is something that we can connect with each other, so hopefully with this choir we are able to connect with them.\"
Also making an appearance is eight-year-old Natanya Tan, who says that perfecting the singing of this year's theme song, Love at First Light, has been easy.
\"It's nice and also not too fast for me to sing, and not too long for me to memorise,\" she said.
\"I feel blessed and honoured because this is my country and it's my country's birthday, so I just want to be part of it.\"
Natanya will be singing the song with home grown singer Olivia Ong.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1217970/1/.html -
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NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD
- Treasuring Our Past, Enriching Our Future
JALAN BESAR
HERITAGE TRAIL
People’s Association Headquarters
(Former Victoria School)
Since 2009, this has been the headquarters of the People’s
Association. From 1985 to 2001, this was the site of Christ Church
Secondary School. But many Singaporeans also have fond memories
of this place as the site of Victoria School from 1933 to 1984.
Victoria School has its origins in 1876, when
Kampong Glam Malay Branch School was founded
under headmaster Y.A. Yzelman to teach English
to Malay pupils in Kampong Glam. In 1897,
this school was amalgamated with Kampong
Glam Malay School (established in 1884 under
headmaster Abdul Wahab and later, M. Hellier),
and renamed Victoria Bridge School, with J.H.H.
Jarett as Principal. It was located at the junction
of Syed Alwi Road and Victoria Street near the
Victoria Bridge. Secondary classes began in 1931.
On 18 September 1933, the school moved to
new premises at Tyrwhitt Road and was renamed
Victoria School. The school motto Nil Sine Labore
(‘Nothing Without Labour’) was introduced in
1940, followed by the formation of the Old Victorians'
Association a year later. During the Japanese
Occupation, the school was renamed Jalan
Besar Boys’ School. After the war, the school
premises were briefly used as a hospital. In 1950,
Victoria School became the first school in Singapore
to have a dedicated Science block, which
was planned by headmaster Raymond F. Bomford.
After his death in 1953, the Bomford Memorial
Fund for outstanding students was established
to commemorate his contributions to the
school. Bomford's successor, Michael Campbell
(Principal from 1954-1957), was instrumental in
leading the school to new heights, with several
Queen's Scholars, Queen's Scouts and national
sportsmen. Another fondly remembered principal,
A. Kannayson (Principal from 1966-1971), did
much to boost morale and oversaw the building
of a new classroom block, canteen, school hall
and science laboratories. The school moved to
Geylang Bahru in 1984 before shifting to its present
location at Siglap Link in 2003.
Victoria School is well known for its strong
academic record and has nurtured many leaders
in public service as well as the education, legal,
medical, religious and corporate sectors. Among
them are former Cabinet member S. Dhanabalan
(b. 1937), Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo (b.
1933), Singapore's unofficial poet laureate; Professor
Ahmad Ibrahim (1916-1999), Singapore's
first non-British Attorney-General; and Dr. Arumugam
Vijiaratnam (b. 1921), first Pro-Chancellor
of the Nanyang Technological University and
a former national player in hockey, soccer, rugby
and cricket. The school also enjoys a proud sporting
tradition. In 1956, sprinter Kesavan Soon,
aged 17, represented Singapore at the Melbourne
Olympic Games and was voted the most popular
sportsman in the peninsula that year. Other notable
Victorian sportsmen include Charlie Chan,
who played in the Malaya Cup as a 16-year old
student in 1952, and national soccer coach Choo
Seng Quee (1914-1983).
The site was occupied by Christ Church Secondary
School from 1985 to 2001. Founded in
1952 as Christ Church School, a private school
under the Christ Church Parish at Dorset Road,
the school came under the aegis of the Anglican
Diocese of Singapore in 1973 and was renamed
Christ Church Secondary School. The school
moved to Woodlands in 2001.
In December 2004, the People’s Association
(PA) announced that it would move into the former
Victoria School premises from the former
Kallang Airport Building, which it had occupied
since 1960. After restoration and refurbishment,
the new headquarters of the PA opened on 29
January 2010.
›› did you know?
Three Presidents of Singapore were old boys of
Victoria School. They are Mr Yusof bin Ishak (1910-
1970), Mr C.V. Devan Nair (1923-2005) and Mr S.R.
Nathan (b. 1924).
“They always said that Victoria School had
the best football field in Singapore. When
it rained, the field would be drained within
half an hour. Nearby, there were a lot of
shops selling ropes, canvas and hardware.
These old shops along St George’s Avenue
have been there since the blocks were built.”
– Mr Chow Chee Wing, 63.
NEW WORLD
“As a student, we used to operate in two
teams to see sword-fighting shows like the
One-armed Swordsman at New World.
One team would rush to queue up to buy
front stall tickets, costing 50 cents
each, while the other team would rush to
order Mee Pok Dry at the corner coffee
shop. Those amongst us who were more
daring and friendly with the ushers would
sneak to the back stall rows once the show
started. There was also a shop making very
good Malay satay just outside the bus stop.”
– Mr Lim How Teck, who studied at Victoria School
from 1964-1969.
JALAN BESAR STADIUM
“The stadium was the best in
British Malaya before Merdeka
Stadium was built in Kuala
Lumpur. In the 1960s, as a
kid, I watched my dream team
England play 'live' before my
eyes at Jalan Besar Stadium and
how they effortlessly trounced
Singapore 9-0; I had never
before seen Uncle Choo [Seng
Quee] so quiet throughout a
match. There were also dairy
goats and cows grazing in the
fields outside the stadium,
where the present swimming
complex is now. They were owned
by Indian milkmen who would
deliver fresh, warm milk to
the doorsteps of neighbourhood
households.”
– Mr Lim Eng Chong, an old boy of
Victoria School, recollecting scenes in
the area in the 1960 to early 1970s.
“Most of the people in Victoria School
were sportsmen. In those days, teachers
were very interested in sports. We
had a British lady who was an Olympic
swimmer; that's why we had a very
strong swimming team. The whole school
would be at every single football game.
The esprit de corps was very good. The
school also had very good support from
mechanics in the area, because most of
the children were from the area. So
everytime we had a football match, we had
to close the gates; otherwise, they'd come
in and wallop the opponent team.”
– Mr Kesavan Soon, 73, Victoria School student
from 1953-1958.
http://www.nhb.gov.sg/WWW/images/index/jalanbesarbrochure.pdf
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