Two Malaysian hockey legends who once stood together for the country are now facing health struggles at the same time. Datuk Seri N. Sri Shanmuganathan and Brian Sta Maria, members of Malaysia’s historic 1975 World Cup squad, are both currently receiving hospital treatment.
Despite dealing with his own heart problems, 78-year-old Shanmuganathan remains concerned about Brian and the challenges his former teammate is facing.
Shanmuganathan, who captained Malaysia at the 1975 Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) and is expected to undergo an angiogram to determine the condition of his heart.
He said he had been trying to help resolve Brian’s accommodation needs before he started feeling unwell himself. After experiencing health problems, he underwent medical checks and was told that he had suffered a mild stroke
The 1975 Malaysian team finished fourth at the World Cup and it is still one of the country’s proudest moments in hockey history.
Brian Calls Sri Shan His Mentor
Meanwhile, 76-year-old Brian is being treated at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) after his condition worsened following a fall at home. Brian, who also represented Malaysia at the 1972 Munich Olympics, said Shanmuganathan has always been someone he looked up to.
Brian, who is also living with Parkinson’s disease, said his recovery has been slow and he is still struggling to walk. He was initially placed in UMMC’s emergency unit because of a lack of beds before being transferred to a normal ward.
His wife, Elaine Lam, expressed relief over the transfer and thanked the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) for providing Brian with a wheelchair.
Calling for better Support for Former Athletes
Their health struggles have brought attention to the welfare of former national athletes. Yakeb chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail visited Shanmuganathan and provided financial assistance. Shanmuganathan thanked Yakeb for it’s support but called for more structurer system to help former athletes after retirement.
He suggested introducing special medical and pension schemes for Malaysian Olympians, noting that there have only been 350 Olympians in the country since 1956.
Brian raised similar concerns, specially about former athletes who no longer have a regular income. He said even monthly assistance of RM300, RM500, or RM1,000 could make a meaningful difference.
He also said the cost of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. According to Brian, the cheapest treatment he had received cost around RM25, while having a physiotherapist visit his home could cost around RM200.
For elderly former athletes, he said travelling for regular rehabilitation can also be difficult. Even while both the hockey legends deal with their own health challenges, their friendship and concern for each other is still strong. Their situation has also renewed an important conversation about ensuring that athletes who once represented Malaysia have the support they need long after their careers come to an end.
