Jeffrey Low, 'The Voice of Soccer', Dies at 79

Jeffrey Low, a well-known sports journalist in Singapore, passed away on July 9 at the age of 79. He worked for three major newspapers — The Straits Times, the New Nation, and The New Paper. Low was so respected for his football writing that people called him 'the voice of soccer.' He covered Singapore football during some of its most exciting years and touched the lives of many players and fans.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Singapore played in the Malaysia Cup, and Low was the reporter everyone wanted to read. Fans who could not get tickets to the National Stadium read his stories carefully to feel close to the action. His byline — the name printed above a news article — was the most popular one in the papers. Getting a quote in one of his articles meant as much to a player as scoring a goal.

Low was also famous for creating the phrase 'Kallang Roar,' which described the loud, passionate cheering of Singapore fans at Kallang Stadium. Football stars like Quah Kim Lye, Dollah Kassim, and Mat Noh looked up to him greatly. Singapore football icon Quah Kim Song said Low's writing helped fill stadiums and build public support for the sport. 'With the stroke of his pen he could get the whole nation excited about football,' Quah said.

Low also had a close relationship with the national coach, the late Choo Seng Quee. Coach Choo would sometimes call Low late at night — even around midnight — to find out what stories would appear in the next day's paper. Other times, he just needed someone to talk to, and Low was always there to listen. This showed how much trust the coach placed in him.

Low often traveled across the Causeway to cover Malaysia Cup matches at stadiums in Malaysia. Even top Malaysian football stars like Soh Chin Aun, Santokh Singh, and Mokhtar Dahari would stop by to say hello to him. They respected him even more than some of their own local reporters. His fairness was one big reason for this — he always wrote the truth, no matter which team played well.

Former Lions midfielder Malek Awab described Low as 'very direct, straightforward.' Singapore striker Ho Kwang Hock said Low was deeply passionate about the sport and never sugarcoated his writing. 'He always wrote the truth,' Ho said. 'He was an honest reporter who did not sugarcoat anything.' Both players felt that Low's honest reporting made Singapore football better.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Low wrote about foreign players like Abbas Saad, Alistair Edwards, and Jang Jung, turning them into household names in Singapore. He believed in supporting anyone who could help Singapore football grow. When Abbas was charged in court for match-fixing in 1995, Low showed up on his day off just to support him. He told a fellow journalist: 'Guilty or not, Abbas deserved my support. He gave so much to our football, the least I could do was let him know that I was still a friend and not just a reporter.'

Abbas remembered Low's presence in court and became emotional when he spoke about it. 'He supported me and believed in me and all that I fought for,' Abbas told The Straits Times. He called Low 'a wonderful man and a gentleman' who left a lasting legacy for journalism. Abbas also said Low's passion for the game rubbed off on him too.

Outside of work, Low had a full and happy life. He once played rhythm guitar for a local pop band called the Straydogs. He was a familiar face at pubs around the Siglap area and enjoyed spending time with friends from his school days at St. Patrick's School. He loved music, good company, and life itself.

Jeffrey Low is survived by his daughter Lavinia and two grandchildren. Those who knew him say that his memory will live on whenever Singapore's golden era of football is remembered. His sharp, honest, and passionate writing helped shape the way Singaporeans fell in love with the beautiful game. As one writer put it: his pen roared — truly.