FAS ● Feb 04, 2018
In Memoriam: Mr Majid Ariff
The Football Association of Singapore is deeply saddened by the passing of Singapore footballing legend Majid Ariff.
Mr Majid trained under the late ‘Uncle’ Choo Seng Quee and made his debut for Singapore at the 1958 Asian Games. He was the only Singaporean to be picked for the Asian All Stars team in 1966 where he featured in an exhibition match against Fulham FC and in the same year, was crucial in Singapore’s fourth-place finish in the Asian Games.
He played a pivotal role in Singapore’s triumph over Selangor in the 1965 Malaya Cup Final, which took place just eight days before Singapore’s independence. He magnificently dribbled past the Selangor defence in the last 17 minutes of the match to help Singapore stage a 3-1 comeback victory over the Malaysian side, despite Singapore trailing behind in the first half.
The late prolific striker continued to inspire countless footballers as a coach upon his retirement from professional football. His coaching background spanned from the professional level, including assistant coach of the National Team in 1972, to grassroots and school teams, setting an exemplary example of how former players continue to give back to the football fraternity and community.
His passion for nurturing aspiring young footballers continued even when he was in his 70s, passing on his knowledge and skills to the children in hopes of producing a generation of talented footballers. His legacy will continue in the players he coached, including former National Team player Fandi Ahmad.
Our thoughts are with Mr Majid’s family in this difficult time.