Credit: Vintage Radio SG
When Singaporean football fans mention “Captain Marvel”, they are not referring to Carol Danvers of the Marvel Universe but Terry Pathmanathan, the former captain of the Singapore national football team.
Among the 68-year-old’s feats was him being part of the Sri Pahang team that won the Malaysia Cup in 1983, beating Selangor 3-2 in the final. It was Pahang’s first time winning this prestigious event.
What many people do not know is that when Terry first started to gain attention as a football talent, he almost quit after attending the first training from Choo Seng Quee – the legendary Singaporean football coach popularly known as “Uncle Choo”.
That was not the only time he deflected the path fate had arranged for him.
Read on for more about how Terry found his calling – football – as shared during his interview with Vintage Radio SG, a digital radio station available online and via mobile app.
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Terry Pathmanathan: "Maybe I was meant to be a sportsman"
To Terry, one of the fondest memories of his childhood days is that his dad would bring him to Farrer Park in the evening to watch football with friends.
In primary school, after classes ended, Terry would sometimes go to Farrer Park field with his classmates to kick around a football. He played and excelled in other sports as well and was very active in all sports-related events at school. Yet, football was somehow always his main interest.
At primary six, the school football master selected him for the school team.
"At that time, I didn’t know how to react except to put my head down."
Terry’s sports achievements continued to secondary school, where he played even more sports competitively, including basketball, badminton, and hockey, and won a lot of medals with his teams. However, only football turned out to be the sport that changed his whole life.
Terry Pathmanathan: "Uncle Choo approached me and asked why I didn’t come for training"
Terry was scouted by Uncle Choo when playing for his secondary school.
At that time, he had no knowledge at all of Uncle Choo and the tremendous impact this coach would have on his career development.
Uncle Choo’s daily training of four hours was strenuous – even for football talents like Terry.
However, Uncle Choo spotted and approached him again at Farrer Park when he was playing the next inter-school game.
"My instant answer was yes and that changed everything, because from then on I was there for every training."
Terry stayed with Uncle Choo for about three years, and he upped his game with the football knowledge and skills he acquired.
Unknown to both at that time, Uncle Choo would go on to earn Coach of the Year after a few years; Terry, as part of the Pahang team, would also win the Malaysia Cup some years later.
Terry Pathmanathan: "I stopped playing football for two years"
After secondary school graduation, Terry chose to join the air force with a six-year contract as an aircraft mechanic. While people who used to play with him under Uncle Choo’s guidance went on to the national team, he spent two years studying in preparation for his job.
Once he started work, Terry hadn’t touched football until the air force started to recruit members for their formation football team.
The air force had not been known for a strong football team, yet that year, with Terry as well as a few other excellent football players, the air force was unstoppable.
With news about him spreading, Terry was invited to play for the Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (SAFSA). While he was worried about the impact on his career as a regular, his commanding officer reassured him and encouraged him to take up the invitation.
Terry Pathmanathan: "Captain Marvel"
After he played about five matches for SAFSA Division 1 team, Terry was selected into the national team. It was a great honour for the footballer, who went on to play for Tampines Rovers, Sri Pahang, Tiong Bahru Division 1, and Sembawang Rangers at different points in his career.
Before joining SAFSA, Terry had always been an attacker, but SAFSA wanted a defender. Since then, he had played as a defender till the end of his football career.
In 1981, Terry was appointed the new captain of the Singapore national football team. He served the position for a good 11 years till 1992.
"I was literally a role model on the field. I played football for 30, 40 years. On record, I only got two yellow cards throughout my career."
Terry began to play for Sri Pahang in 1982. That year, Pahang went all the way till the semi-finals but then lost 0-1 to Selangor. The next year, 1983, Pahang beat their old rival Selangor 3-2 in the final and won the Malaysia Cup for the first time.
That was when Terry earned the nickname “Captain Marvel” – after Pahang’s win, sports editor and reporter Jeffrey Low gave him the name because of his leadership position in the national team and the determination he showed on the field during the Malaysia Cup.
The excitement of fans from the state of Pahang over the team’s victory was exceptional. A public holiday was declared, and the team was brought back from Kuala Lumpur.
Terry Pathmanathan: "That’s how I keep myself going"
Now retired from the field, Terry has more time for his family. He also spends a lot of time with his friends, joking and having a good laugh together.
Walking is one of his ways to keep fit. He enjoys the walks to his office and back home. Sometimes, he intentionally takes the longer routes to his destinations.
Terry is currently with the Singapore Sports Council and the ActiveSG Football Academy.
"I'm still deeply involved with football in one way or another."
This content was originally aired on Vintage Radio. To listen to the complete podcast, click here.
