Malaysia Cup Winner Sleeping on Kuala Lumpur Walkways

Salahuddin Che Ros was a star defender for Penang when he was young and strong. He then signed with Pahang, where he had two successful seasons, including the 1992 Malaysia Cup title. He was a national name in the 1990s and captained the Football Association of Malaysia's 1992 Barcelona project squad.

In December 2018 the New Straits Times reported that he was jobless and sleeping rough in Kuala Lumpur. He had a heart attack in 2009, and a heart problem now prevents him from doing heavy work. He had been travelling between Penang and Kuala Lumpur for treatment at the National Heart Institute, and to save money he slept for days at a time on the covered walkway in front of shophouses, known in Malaysia as the five-foot way. The article does not say how long this went on in total.

The report came from a former teammate, Kamal Khalid, who spoke to the paper's sports desk. He had last met Salahuddin three years earlier and said that Salahuddin had not mentioned financial trouble then, although Penang FA and Pahang FA had raised funds for him before.

Penang FA said it did not know he was sleeping on the streets until the media reported it. Its president, Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah, said the association was trying to find him and was offering help, including financial support.

The story shows how quickly a once-celebrated career can leave a player with little security once the playing days and the income are gone.