FORMER national goalkeeper Chow Chee Keong, who was also Malaysia’s first professional footballer, died at the University Malaya Medical Centre this morning.

He was 70.

His son, Adrian Chow, announced the death in a Facebook post.

Adrian said his father had “fought hard and long for a long time to stay with us”, but lost the battle today about 7am.

Chee Keong signed with Jardine, a Hong Kong first division club, in 1970, when he was 21, for a salary of HK$2,500 (now RM1,260).

He went on to play for another two Hong Kong teams – South China AA and Hong Kong Rangers FC – for more than a decade before returning to Malaysia.

He also played against Brazilian legend Pele during his time with the Rangers.

Chee Keong made his international debut for Malaysia at the tender age of 15 in 1965.

He was the country’s top choice between the posts in the early 1980s.

He was known in Hong Kong as the “Asian Stainless Steel Gate” for his fine work keeping out goals. – February 21, 2018.