Singapore football icon Arshad Khamis dies at age 68
A prolific striker, Arshad was a member of the Singapore team that won the Malaysia Cup in 1977 and 1980.
Singapore football icon Arshad Khamis died at his home in Canada on Thursday from a suspected heart attack. He was 68.
Arshad was a key member of the Singapore side that won the Malaysia Cup in 1977 and 1980. He also turned out for football clubs such as Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association, Geylang International and the Singapore Malays.
“The FAS is saddened by the passing of Singapore football icon Arshad Khamis,” a Football Association of Singapore (FAS) spokesman said.
“Mr Arshad represented Singapore in the 1970s and 1980s, playing for the late Uncle Choo Seng Quee and Jita Singh.
“He was a prolific striker in his heyday, playing alongside the late Dollah Kassim and Samad Allapitchay, and inspired generations of footballers.”
A likely heart attack
Talking to Channel NewsAsia, Arshad’s wife, Mil Khamis, said the former striker died peacefully at about 1.45pm on Thursday.
Mil said she noticed Arshad did not respond when she called, and went to check on him. She then called the paramedics, who could not find a pulse.
The cause of death was likely a heart attack, Arshad’s wife added.
A minute of silence was observed before kick-off in Friday’s international friendly between Singapore and Mongolia, which the Southeast Asians won 2-0.
Famous goals
A powerful forward, Arshad scored the opening goal in a 4-1 win over Kelantan Malays at the National Stadium in June 1973. It was the first football match ever to be played at the iconic venue.
He is also remembered for scoring in a friendly Singapore played against a Franz Beckenbauer-led New York Cosmos in October 1979, a game the American side won 4-1.