N Ganesan
IHF-SG Excellence Sports Award Sports For Officials
Nadeson Ganesan was an extraordinary football administrator with a genuine love for the beautiful game.
Born Singapore on 31 October 1932, Ganesan was the youngest of five children. Ganesan got hooked to football in 1945 when he first moved with his family to Owen Road. His neighbour was none other than “Uncle” Choo Seng Quee who taught him to play football.
Ganesan went on to represent Combined Schools, Singapore Indians and played Division One soccer at the young age of 16. However, a knee injury dashed his hope of playing for Singapore.
A lawyer by profession, Ganesan was appointed deputy chairman to R.B.I. Pates on 18 March 1974 by the then-minister for social affairs, Mr. Othman Wok. However, Pates’ poor health left his deputy holding the reins most of the time at the Football Association. His first task as boss of the Singapore team was to wipe off the FAS’ $20,000 debt, incurred over the years. Ganesan built a huge rapport with the public with his eloquent speeches and constantly kept in touch with them. The rapport he created with the fans was one of several other factors that helped Ganesan and company to build the FAS into one of the richest of Singapore’s sports associations, the Singapore (FAS).
The 3,000 or so fans who watched pre-Ganesan Singapore competing with Malaysian state teams in the Malaysia Cup, grew to an average 45,000 within a year.
It was no exaggeration to say that Ganesan was responsible for raising the decibels at the National Stadium in the mid and late 7Os. He had done more for football than any other.
The biggest thrill during his tenure as FAS chairman (1974-1982) was in 1974 when a full capacity crowd packed the National Stadium to watch the Singapore versus Penang Malaysia Cup first leg semi-final on 26 May 1974. Singapore won 3-2 with the gate collection amassing a record $80,000.
Ganesan, Singapore’s first representative in the Asian Council, was indeed a boon to Singapore soccer.
Football clubs in Singapore were generally a happy lot when Ganesan held the reins as chairman of FAS.
An impeccable and dedicated administrator with loads of enthusiasm and ideas, Ganesan’s achievements were similar to what Tengku Abdul Rahman did for Malaysian soccer. Both of them were successful in raising the standards with their ideas and bringing back the fans’ support for their respective countries.
Ganesan was at every national training session, at 6.30 in the morning or at 7 at night. He also had a thorough knowledge of the game. One of the milestones of Ganesan’s administration was Singapore’s hosting of the crucial World Cup qualifier between China and New Zealand on 10 Jan 1982, to decide the final place to the World Cup finals in Spain.
Ganesan’s successful football mantra was: “If you want to do something, you must do it well and must be prepared to work and sacrifice for it.”
Ganesan, who suffered a stroke in March 2011, spent the last few years of his life at the Good Shepherd Loft nursing home in Bukit Timah. He died on 01 July 2015, aged 82, after collapsing while having his breakfast.
Affectionately known as “Gani” by everyone in the Singapore football fraternity, he rewrote the history of Singapore football with his passion for the game and leadership. He was considered one of the best officials, one who would go out of his way to help the players.
It was fabled that he even helped some of the players who had financial difficulties, out of his own pocket.
Nadeson Ganesan was indeed Singapore football’s beacon of light.