Legends: Baskaran (right) with Isa Bakar (second from left) ahead of an international veterans’ competition in China.
BUTTERWORTH: It was the heydays of Penang football, when the state was always in contention for the Malaysia Cup, and provided many of the national players.
The state had many great players – Namat Abdullah, Shukor Salleh, Isa Bakar, Ali Bakar, Shaharuddin Abdullah, all legends.
Baskaran and Logambal at their wedding, when Isa Bakar scored a goal as a tribute.
Alongside them, there was one rock-solid defender in the No 4 shirt. His name was N. Baskaran.
To this day, his friends call him “The Bas” while the many Chinese fans who could not quite pronounce his name had a different moniker – they called him “Bas Kilang”.
It was a fitting nickname. He was like a bus in front of the goalmouth and getting past him was always difficult for even the best of players.
The state team were on par with powerhouses like Selangor, Perak and Singapore. The Kramat Roar was a fearsome one. Penang won the Malaysia Cup in 1974, beating Perak 2-1.
Sadly, though, the state’s football has sunk to the doldrums, to Baskaran’s dismay.
Good old memories: Baskaran showing a portrait of him and good friend and Penang legend Isa Bakar during their trip to China in the late 80s. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
Baskaran, 71, says there are a lot of promising young players in the state but they need to be trained and polished to become skilful players.
“Something should be done to return to Penang’s glory days, I feel sad that Penang have not won anything for the past decade,” he said.
During a visit by The Star team to his house in Bagan Ajam on Sunday, Baskaran walked slowly and is in need of a walking aid. His left toe had to be removed recently due to a medical condition. He suffered a stroke five years ago that has slowed him down.
It was a far cry from the steely defender who was one of the biggest stars for the Penang team from 1972-1983.
His memories of those playing days are still fresh.
Baskaran started to play competitive football right after his STPM at the age of 19. He joined the Prisons Department in 1971 and played for the team, one of the top club sides in the country, after being roped in to work as a warden.
“After a year, I was selected to play for Penang. And my journey as a footballer began,” he said proudly.
Among the other big names he played with while with Prisons were legends like Namat, his brother Shaharuddin and the stalwart Ooi Hock Kheng.
The terrific twins: Baskaran (right) and Isa Bakar during an FAM Cup match for PPC. It was quite hard to tell the two apart as both sported a similar hairdo and moustache.
Namat and Shaharuddin may have been brothers but Baskaran and the legendary Isa Bakar were practically twins. Both were practical jokers, they had a lot of fun off the field and, on the field, they made for a fearsome pair, one in defence and one in attack.
Baskaran acknowledges that Isa, who died on Aug 28, 2010, had been like a twin to him.
“During my wedding, Isa promised me that he would score in conjunction with my wedding. He did just that during a league match and dedicated the goal to me,” he said.
Baskaran and Isa both sported their thick moustaches during their playing days and the pair were known to be similar looking, friendly and jovial.
Before Penang state matches, the two would go around the City Stadium on motor-cycles, egging on the crowd waiting to buy tickets for the matches. And the crowds would love it.
Baskaran left Prisons to play alongside Isa for Penang Port Commission, another top club in the country then. The two featured for the state team in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Asked about his sweetest memories during his playing days , he said that it was beating Singapore 2-1 in a Malaysian League match in 1982.
“That was the sweetest I think. For years, Singapore had been our arch nemesis and beating them was something Penang fans remember for a long time.
“What makes the win great was that we won in front of thousands of our fans at City Stadium,” he said.
Warrior at heart: Baskaran with his wife Logambal at their home in Bagan Ajam. He had his toe removed recently due to his medical condition.
In 1982, Penang won the first edition of Malaysia’s First Division league. The following year, the state finished runners-up. Baskaran was there both times.
He also donned the national jersey for two years from 1975 to 1976 and won the Aga-Khan Gold Cup in Bangladesh.
He now lives with his wife, R. Logambal, 71, a retired teacher. They have a daughter aged 36 and a son aged 35. They also have a granddaughter, aged six.
