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FIT FOR ANOTHER BOUT: Dollah Salleh (No 9) has promised goals from his boots at his old hunting ground - the National Stadium - when the Malaysian veterans play their Singapore counterparts tomorrow. -- PHOTOS: NEW STRAITS TIMES, BT FILE PHOTO
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THE famous Kallang Roar intimidated many an opposing player at the National Stadium.
But not Dollah Salleh.
The visitors-unfriendly cheers from the stands were music to the ears of the former Malaysian international.
Tomorrow, he will take to his old hunting ground one last time, in a friendly match to mark the stadium's closing.
'I loved to play at Kallang, and I loved the Kallang Roar,' said the former striker, now a coach with Malaysian state side Selangor.
Said the 44-year-old: 'I got used to the crowd, and I liked to play there because I would perform well 80 per cent of the time.'
He was a familiar face at the stadium between 1982 and 1994, when he played for Johor, Selangor and Pahang in the Malaysia Cup.
Known as 'Mara-Dollah' back home, he was famous for his mercurial left foot and spectacular goals, just like the Argentinian legend.
According to Dollah, his skills even earned him the grudging respect of the Kallang faithful.
'I remember, when they announced my name over the PA system, some of the crowd would cheer for me,' he said.
The National Stadium also has a special place in his heart.
It was there, as a 12-year-old, that he first donned a pair of soccer boots.
He recounted: 'I played for Bukit Timah against Katong in an Under-12 cup final there in 1975.'
'I will never forget it, because it was the first time I had a pair of boots on, an old adidas Chile.'
He cannot recall how many times he has played at the stadium, nor the number of goals he has poached there.
'Too many to remember,' he said with a laugh.
But, he remembers clearly the friendships he forged, even on opposite sides of the pitch.
'Fandi Ahmad, Malek Awab and D. Tokijan are my friends,' he said proudly.
'I still call them from time to time just to catch up.'
But it was a former Singapore full-back Sudiat Dali who literally left the deepest impression on Dollah.
'I hated Sudiat,' he joked. 'He was a tough tackler, and it was very difficult to beat him.
'I have the stud marks to show for it.
'Even if I went past him, he would tackle me from behind,'
But Dollah says the two continue to be good friends.
When asked to be part of a Malaysian side made up of former internationals for the stadium's farewell, he jumped at the chance.
It would give him the opportunity to line up against his former opponents at their old arena.
'The National Stadium was like my second home,' he said. 'I will miss the Kallang Roar and the thrill of the old Malaysia Cup.'
He last played at Kallang in a veterans' game last year.
He scored both goals as Selangor beat Singapore 2-1 in the Sultan of Selangor Cup.
Dollah has apparently lost none of his old swagger.
'I will score again on Saturday,' he vowed. 'Maybe I will beat two or three players and score a goal - just like I did in the old days.'
tvoon@sph.com.sg
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