Ah Suk Lam Sheung Yee

His life is soccer
    Soccer is his life

     When asked whether he still plays soccer today, Lam Sheung Yee laughed lightly and said: "No, no, I'm too old now and I'm very busy. I don't play soccer nowadays."

     Former soccer star, current star commentator, Lam Sheung Yee has been active in the field of local soccer for more than 40 years.

     He joined Eastern at the age of 16. It was his first team in the first division of the local league.

     After playing for Eastern for 19 years, he changed to Rangers two years before ending his soccer playing career.

     He was renowned for his powerful shots, so he gained the nickname "Chong Pau Sau".

     The power of his shots was the fruit of long-term practice.

     "Before training sessions, I would go to the changing room and soak the ball with water. The ball then becameheavy, and I had the advantage during real matches because the ball was lighter than usual," he recounted.

     1958 was the most unforgettable and meaningful year for Lam Sheung Yee.

     "That year, we won the gold medal for soccer in the 3rd Asian Games at Tokyo.

     "We played against South Korea in the final game. I had been sent off not long before the match finished.

     "I had a quarrel with a Korean player, and we both broke the rules. Therefore we were sent off at the same time," he said.

     He represented Chinese United in the 1958 Games.

     Soccer was not popular in Taiwan, so the quality of soccer players there was low. Therefore, Hong Kong soccer players were invited to represent Chinese United.

     Hong Kong soccer players in the 50s and 60s might be players for Hong Kong or Chinese United.

     "I of course chose Chinese United because it was better to represent a country than to represent a region," he said.

     Lam Sheung Yee has also worked as an assistant coach for the soccer team of Hong Kong.

     "The players whom I've taught have retired now."

     His voice faded, and he sighed lightly when he talked about Ho Sun Wah, who died during the Lunar New Year.

     "I was responsible for selecting players for the Youth Team. When he came, he hung his trainers on his shoulder, one in the front and one at the back.

     "He wore a pair of 'Pak Fan Yu' without the heels on, and he did not tie his shoelaces. I remember he was smoking too.

     "'What a guy he is, how can it be?' I thought. Anyway I need to let him try, right?

     "Wa! He could play really well!

     "Then I selected him for the team, and tried to change his attitudes.

     "'Guy, how old are you this year? Why not tie your shoelaces and get your heels on? Smoking harms your respiratory system. It will affect your career as an athlete.'

     "I taught him patiently from time to time.

     "He was in his teens when he first came, and he finally became a soccer star in the 70s," he told Varsity.

     Just before his soccer life ended, RTHK invited him to work as a soccer commentator.

     To practise his commentary skills, he watched matches and carried with him a small cassette recorder. He sat in less crowded areas, and recorded his commentaries on the matches. After that, he would listen to the tapes at home and try to improve.

     After about three years at RTHK, he changed to Commercial Radio and then to television. Since then he has been working in television stations.

     "It is quite different commentating for radio and for television," he said, "you need to describe every detail of the match for radio, because the audience have no visual image to refer to. They only rely on my descriptions in finding out what's going on in the match."

     Lam Sheung Yee has frequently been elected as the best or the most popular soccer commentator.

     "I think it is a matter of style, not a matter of good or bad," he said.

     He started to act for movies about seven years ago.

     Said he: "Of course I'm not successful in acting. It's fun, but I don't have the training. I just try my best to follow the instructions of the director.

     Hong Kong was once the "kingdom of Asian soccer". However the glory has faded.

     "Players in the past were definitely more skillful than todays'.

     "Players today start and finish training sessions on time. They aren't aggressive and don't practise by themselves. They only treat soccer as a job.

     "However, players in the past often took a ball and went to the pitch to play in their spare time," he said.

     Lam Sheung Yee and most of the other soccer players at that time, were not full-time players. He has been a full-time teacher for about 21 years.

     "To be successful, one must put in effort. It doesn't matter whether one's part-time or full-time.

     "What's important is the attitude towards one's soccer career," he said.

     A number of retired local and foreign soccer players are Lam Sheung Yee's idols, such as Wu Kwok Hung, Pele and Beckenbauer.

     However he appreciates no local players nowadays.

     He said it was because in these few years no local players could achieve the level he asked for.

     "There is not even a single prominent player in recent years, not even one-half," he said.

     "I expect that the gloomy atmosphere in local soccer will be worse and worse. First of all the economy is bad, and those who organize and pay for soccer teams become less enthusiastic. Second, the quality of players is poor, the audience gets bored, and less people buy tickets for matches.

     "I of course hope that the prospects of local soccer will improve because I make a living in this field. However, I don't feel optimistic," said he.

     "I like soccer the best, from the beginning till the end, it's still soccer. Anyway, I like soccer the best," he said.

     His enthusiasm towards soccer has never changed.

     Said he: "From the time I was a soccer player till now as a commentator, I've always adored soccer.

     "What's more, soccer has given me a lot.

     "I've earned a living by playing soccer and then by giving commentaries, and I've learned much from participating in this field.

     "My life is for soccer, and soccer gives meaning to my life.

     "I think my road has been rather smooth and I'm quite lucky.