MONOLISA
Former footballer and FIFA referee S.K. Kennedy, best known for officiating during the early years of the Singapore Premier League (SPL), died on Dec 26 aged 59.
In accordance with his family’s wishes, the cause of his death was not made public. Kennedy, who was also a former teacher at Loyang Secondary School, was single, having never married.
“He was a dedicated and filial son, right from the beginning, and he will be dearly missed by his family and loved ones,” his family said.
Easily recognised for his uneven skin tone on his face and body – caused by a pigmentation issue – Kennedy left a lasting impression in the field of football officiating.
After his playing career, which included playing for local semi-professional side Tyrwhitt Soccerites in the late 1980s, he refereed SPL matches and numerous international tournaments from the mid-1990s to 2005.
Kennedy also showed his steadfast dedication to helping the underprivileged. When he won the SPL Best Referee Award in 2002, he donated his season’s refereeing stipend and $5,000 prize money to the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.
In a condolence message on Facebook, the Football Association of Singapore wrote: “While he adopted a no-nonsense approach on the field, Kennedy had a softer demeanour off the pitch and was passionate about caring for the needy in the community.”
Football enthusiast A. Thiyaga Raju, author of the book ROAR – Football Legends Of Singapore, said Kennedy was one of the finest referees Singapore has produced.
“At the annual Cooper (fitness) test for referees, Kennedy would be the one setting the highest bar to inspire the younger referees – less than 12 minutes for the 3.2km run,” he said.
He related an incident in 1998 when Kennedy missed his brother’s engagement ceremony to officiate an SPL game between SAFFC and Jurong FC at Jurong Stadium.
“A gentle and modest individual, his passing is a significant loss to the refereeing community,” said Raju.
Former journalist and football referee Suresh Nair said Kennedy was respected by his cohort for making “brave decisions” during matches. He also referenced an incident when Kennedy was jeered over his skin condition by fans during a match in Malaysia.
“Kennedy was a very intelligent and skilled referee,” said Suresh. “He was unquestionably an inspiration to all local referees, both the younger ones and those of his era.”
Former national team captain Terry Pathmanathan, who knew Kennedy for more than 25 years, remembered him as a “warm and compassionate” person.
“Only when he became a referee did Kennedy, a football player, get recognition,” said Terry.
“His fearless demeanour and unbiased judgement on the field made him exceptional. His passing is a great loss to Singapore football.”
