KUALA LUMPUR – The Ipoh Football Association has pledged to maintain Ipoh Padang as a hub for developing top football talents for Malaysia’s national football team.
The three-hectare, 126-year-old field, located along Jalan S.P. Seenivasagam in Ipoh city centre, is a major landmark steeped in history.
It was built in 1898 by the British government under the supervision of officers C.G. Ogilvie and G.J. Perry to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee the previous year.
The field was initially used by British officials to play cricket and served as the location for official ceremonies of the British government in Perak, including military parades.
In 1957, Ipoh Padang was chosen as the location for Malaysia’s independence celebration in Perak.
Since then, the field has been used for various sports activities such as football, cricket, rugby, hockey, and athletics.
However, community football remains the favourite sport at Ipoh Padang, with the Ipoh Football Association organising tournaments there for over three decades.
Speaking to Scoop, Ipoh Football Association chairman Andrew Lee said the association has never charged a single penny from any of its participants throughout its long history of organising community football tournaments.
“Sports are a great teacher, and we strongly believe in this principle. We are happy to be playing our part in the development of the community in Ipoh through sports.
“Community football is an identity in Ipoh, and we have never failed in grooming the best footballers for the country. As sports organisers, we will ensure that football stays alive in Ipoh.
“We also organise tournaments at Taman Daya field in Ipoh occasionally, but Ipoh Padang is a field that remains close to the hearts of all the residents of Ipoh.
“Without Ipoh Padang, many people in this area would not be active in sports, and we at the Ipoh Football Association are happy that we are doing our part well,” said Andrew.
Andrew also mentioned that the establishment of the Ipoh Football Super League has empowered the youth in the city to pursue professional careers in football.
“We have been running our league at Ipoh Padang for more than 30 years, and it is one of the top football leagues in Ipoh.
“The league consists of higher division teams (20 teams) and lower division teams (30 teams), and we have produced several state players over the past three decades.
“Our objective in running this league is to groom young footballers and contribute to developing state and national players from this iconic Ipoh Padang ground.
“The league runs for two to three months, though we occasionally have to pause due to other parties using the field or heavy downpours in the area.
“We also have many teams from the banking industry playing in the league, and we aim to ensure that the youngsters get jobs at these banks through football.
“We have empowered many players over the years by indirectly helping them secure jobs, so they stay active and do not stray onto the wrong path,” Andrew added.
Among the top talents from the modern era who emerged from the iconic Ipoh Padang is Kenny Pallraj, who played for Perak FC and Harimau Malaya.
Currently with Kuala Lumpur City FC, the Ipoh-born defensive midfielder has won the Malaysia Cup twice (Perak FC in 2018, KL City FC in 2021) in his career.
Other notable footballers who have showcased their skills at the iconic Ipoh Padang include Datuk M. Karathu, Chong Yee Fatt, K. Nanthakumar, and Ahmad Shahrul Azhar Sofian. – May 25, 2024