Chow Chee Keong
Encyclopedia
Chow Chee Keong is a former football (soccer)
goalkeeper who played in Hong Kong.
. In 1963, he represented the Malaysian in under-20 level as a 13 years old. Two years later, he joined the Malaysia national football team
as a 15 years old. At that point, he was the youngest ever Malaysian international player. From 1966 to 1970, he was voted by Asian Football Confederation
as the best goalkeeper for 5 straight times. In 1968, he came to Hong Kong with a Malaysian Chinese selection side and many Hong Kong clubs took notice of him. Two years later, he joined Hong Kong Rangers FC for three guest matches. Then, he joined Jardines (Chinese name:怡和) for a salary of HKD 2500 per month which was the Hong Kong record at that time. However, a year later, Jardines withdrew from Hong Kong league
. So he moved to South China AA where his career started to take off. For his three seasons with South China AA, he won many trophies and personal awards. In 1974, he moved to Tung Sing. His salary was HKD 7000 per month plus housing. In 1977, he returned to South China AA. A year later, he started to play in both Hong Kong league
and the Malaysian league
simultaneously. In 1979, he left Hong Kong, but returned in 1981. He spent a short time again with South China AA before moving to Hong Kong Rangers FC. In 1982, he finally returned to Malaysia and played for Malaysia national football team
for three years then retired from football.
er after retiring from football. In 1991, he finally earned a coaching license. He first started to teach in Malaysia. In 1995, he moved to a golf club in Shenzhen
, China
. In 1997, he returned to South China AA as a golfing instructor.
visited Hong Kong to play an exhibition match against Caroline Hill. Sau Chi Keung was invited by Caroline Hill as a guest player. However, on the same day, his home club, South China AA had to play in another match across the Hong Kong Harbour. At that time, the Hong Kong Cross Harbour Tunnel was still incomplete. So Caroline hired a helicopter to bring him across the harbour so that he could play in both matches.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper who played in Hong Kong.
Career
His nickname in Hong Kong was "Asian Stainless Steel Gate (Chinese:「亞洲鋼門」meaning number 1 keeper in Asia) and "Crazy Sword" (Chinese:「神經刀). He was a Malaysian ChineseMalaysian Chinese
Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin. Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. Within Malaysia, they are usually simply referred to as "Chinese" in all languages. The term Chinese Malaysian is also sometimes used to refer to...
. In 1963, he represented the Malaysian in under-20 level as a 13 years old. Two years later, he joined the Malaysia national football team
Malaysia national football team
The Malaysian national football team nicknamed Harimau Malaya, as the Malayan Tiger, is the national team of Malaysia and is controlled by the Football Association of Malaysia...
as a 15 years old. At that point, he was the youngest ever Malaysian international player. From 1966 to 1970, he was voted by Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
as the best goalkeeper for 5 straight times. In 1968, he came to Hong Kong with a Malaysian Chinese selection side and many Hong Kong clubs took notice of him. Two years later, he joined Hong Kong Rangers FC for three guest matches. Then, he joined Jardines (Chinese name:怡和) for a salary of HKD 2500 per month which was the Hong Kong record at that time. However, a year later, Jardines withdrew from Hong Kong league
Hong Kong First Division League
Hong Kong First Division League is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.-Competition format:...
. So he moved to South China AA where his career started to take off. For his three seasons with South China AA, he won many trophies and personal awards. In 1974, he moved to Tung Sing. His salary was HKD 7000 per month plus housing. In 1977, he returned to South China AA. A year later, he started to play in both Hong Kong league
Hong Kong First Division League
Hong Kong First Division League is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.-Competition format:...
and the Malaysian league
Malaysian Super League
The Malaysia Super League is a Malaysian professional league for association football. At the top flight of the Malaysian football league system and it is managed by the Malaysia Super League Sdn Bhd, under supervision of the Football Association of Malaysia...
simultaneously. In 1979, he left Hong Kong, but returned in 1981. He spent a short time again with South China AA before moving to Hong Kong Rangers FC. In 1982, he finally returned to Malaysia and played for Malaysia national football team
Malaysia national football team
The Malaysian national football team nicknamed Harimau Malaya, as the Malayan Tiger, is the national team of Malaysia and is controlled by the Football Association of Malaysia...
for three years then retired from football.
Retirement
He became a golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er after retiring from football. In 1991, he finally earned a coaching license. He first started to teach in Malaysia. In 1995, he moved to a golf club in Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In 1997, he returned to South China AA as a golfing instructor.
Interesting story
In 1973, when Santos Futebol ClubeSantos Futebol Clube
Santos Futebol Clube is a Brazilian professional football club based in Santos, São Paulo They play in the Campeonato Paulista and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the highest professional leagues in São Paulo state and Brazil, respectively....
visited Hong Kong to play an exhibition match against Caroline Hill. Sau Chi Keung was invited by Caroline Hill as a guest player. However, on the same day, his home club, South China AA had to play in another match across the Hong Kong Harbour. At that time, the Hong Kong Cross Harbour Tunnel was still incomplete. So Caroline hired a helicopter to bring him across the harbour so that he could play in both matches.