Starbrite continue to provide platform for youngsters to grow

One for the album: Starbrite team and officials posing for a photograph ahead of their FAS League match at the Sepang Municipal Council Mini Stadium. Inset: The late Datuk R. Arumugam formed Starbrite Football Club in 1983.

THE late Datuk R. Arumugam is well known for his contribution to Malaysian football, earning him the moniker “Spiderman” for his prowess between the posts.

Arumugam, fondly called Aru by teammates, served for his home state Selangor for 17 years from 1971-1988. He was also the mainstay of the national team for 13 years – from 1973-1986.

But Aru did more than just play the game.

In 1983, he formed his own club – Starbrite Football Club in Port Klang – as part of his personal contribution to the youngsters in his neighbourhood.

Aru had big plans for the multi-racial Starbrite after hanging up his gloves.

Sadly, he was killed in a car accident along the Federal Highway on Dec 18, 1988, at the age of 35 – just five years after the club’s formation.

The team have been using the Vantooran field in Port Klang from day one as their home ground.

Although none of the club’s players have managed to scale the heights reached by their illustrious founder, the club pride themselves in being an avenue for youths in Port Klang to enjoy football and stay away from social ills.

The small club, who compete in the Selangor Football Associaton (FAS) League, have played a big role in providing the platform for young players to showcase their talent and being a stepping stone for players to join the Red Giants in the M-League.

 

The late Datuk R. Arumugam formed Starbrite Football Club in 1983.

 

Another big name to have come out from Starbrite is P. Dharmalingam, who donned the Selangor colours and was a member of the Barcelona Babes squad from 1989-1991.

Datuk S. Sivasundaram, a close friend of the late Aru and the Starbrite president, said that his dear friend was “truly a role model and an inspiration to all Malaysians”.

“Aru wanted to give something back to the people of Port Klang. He wanted to give the youngsters a chance to play football and pass on his knowledge and share his experience of playing with the best in the country,” said Sivasundaram, who is also the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vice-president.

“This club was his way of keeping the youths of Port Klang from getting involved in social ills. He had big plans for the club. Sadly, he passed away at a young age.

“We are continuing his legacy in Port Klang by running the club. It hasn’t been easy, not with a shoe-string budget. But we have coped well for the last 34 years, so I think we are doing okay despite our limitations.”

Starbrite have been regulars in the Football Association of Selangor (FAS) organised FAS League. They are in the second division – Premier League – of the FAS League, but they are not there to just make up the numbers.

The club side reached the FAM Cup – the third tier of the M-League – in 1987 after winning the Premier Division of the FAS League despite only having youngsters and amateurs.

Starbrite are also among the few clubs in the country to hold two football tournaments annually – the Datuk R. Arumugam Memorial Cup Under-20 tournament and Datuk Arumu­gam Memorial Cup veteran tournament.

Sivasundaram said that although they would like to manage more teams, especially age group sides, “finance remains our biggest obstacle”.

“We do have corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnership with several sponsors and that enables us to manage our team in the FAS League. We have won the FAS League before but now we are a mid-table team because we can’t match the financial might of the others,” said Sivasundaram, who added that they welcomed former players to return and serve the club.

For example, deputy president A. Vellayutham has been serving the club since the days of Aru in several administrative roles while one of the club’s vice-presidents, G. Rasagopal, used to coach the team before.

Dharmalingam, one of the biggest names the club have produced, has played and coached the team and is now serving as one of the officials.

“I don’t think we can ever produce a talent like Aru or his good friend, the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, anymore because they are once-in-a-lifetime players. It will be an outstanding achievement for a club like ours if we can produce a player half their calibre,” said Sivasundaram.

“Starbrite’s next biggest name would be P. Dharmalingam, who played for Selangor and Malaysia as a central defender in the late 80s. He came back to the club and has played and coached the team and he’s also one the four vice-presidents of the club.