Former S'pore national footballer Rahmat Mawar passes away at 81

Former national footballer Rahmat Mawar passed away on Oct. 29 at 81 years old.

Known as “Singa” and for his strength and fearless defending, the ex-football captain was the first man to lift a trophy at the old National Stadium in June 1973.

He died just after 12:30am at Woodlands Health Campus, according to The Straits Times.

His family said that Rahmat had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which causes restricted airflow and breathing problems.

Leaves behind a legacy of resilience and courage

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) took to Instagram to commemorate Rahmat soon after his passing.

Describing him as "a cherished icon in Singapore football" who "leaves behind a legacy of resilience and courage", the association recounted how Rahmat became a celebrated and formidable centre-back for Singapore in the 1960s and 1970s.

"Rahmat’s enduring legacy as a true lion will forever be cherished by fans, players, and loved ones. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all those who had the privilege of knowing him," said FAS.

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Background

Rahmat was drafted into the Singapore Youth Team in 1963, before entering the national team in 1957.

He grew to become one of Singapore's most reliable defenders, clinching his spot to compete in iconic tournaments such as the Merdeka Tournament, SEAP Games (now known as SEA Games), and the Malaysia Cup.

As captain of the Singapore Malays Football Association (SMFA), Rahmat led his team to their first Sultan’s Gold Cup victory at the National Stadium on Jun. 24, 1973, at the stadium's first-ever football event.

He repeated this feat in 1975 when he led his team to another Sultan’s Gold Cup victory against Penang Malays.

There, he became the first captain to lift the cup twice in Singapore’s National Stadium.

Top image via Singapore Soccer and Shaari Harun/Facebook