Ahtong 1st Gear March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 Fandi Ahmad is looking for HDB flat AsiaOne Sun, Mar 06, 2011 In a 1991 interview, Singapore's favourite football icon, Fandi Ahmad, told The New Paper, 'I have enough money. Lots of money. In two years' time, I would have made enough to last the rest of my lifetime.' He was the country's first millionaire sportsman when he turned 30 in 1993. Now, however, life has dealt him a cruel twist after a decade of setbacks and he is looking for a Housing Board flat in the Yishun vicinity, near his mother's. The 48-year-old used to share a terrace house with his wife, Wendy Jacobs, and his five children. Fandi informed The Sunday Times that his wife is still recovering from a fall in the couple's Jakarta home two years ago. She had suffered temporary memory loss and was bedridden for almost a month. Although she still suffers the occasional mild seizure, she is improving, said Fandi. He told The Straits Times: 'She's getting a lot of rest at home and is much better than before, so we're all happy.' The ex-Lion, however, is on his guard when quizzed about other problems that he has faced recently. 'What's past is past, I can't do anything about it,' he stressed, adding that the constant query on these subjects is 'sickening'. A few failed businesses in the past had left him in so much debt that two parties sued in June 2006 to recover $230,000 in 'friendly loans', which were allegedly taken when Fandi started a used-car dealership in 1999. Fandi then pulled out of the partnership two years later but was still saddled with the debt of his business partners, who had been declared bankrupt. He was their guarantor. Developing young talent His focus has now turned towards helping develop young talent through his academy, which he will launch on Saturday. He is also watching over the growing maturity of his two sons in football - Irfan, 14, and Ikhsan, 12. Despite impressing major European clubs such as AC Milan and Chelsea in trials and making plans for a training stint with Italian Serie B side Vicenza earlier this year, visa issues had forced the family to put that idea on hold. Fandi is also aware that the public will be expecting his sons to fill in the shoes that he has vacated. 'It's not easy for them,' he noted. 'People will expect a lot and scrutinise them. That's why I don't put too much pressure on them. 'I'll just let them enjoy the game while they can and, if they can play good football, that would be good.' He does, however, harbour the hope that at least one of his sons will become a Lion. 'My father (Ahmad Wartam) and uncle (the late Abu Sujak) both played for Singapore. It would be good if they could carry on that tradition,' he said. Good friend and former national teammate Rafi Ali pointed out: 'During his time, everything he touched turned to gold. Everybody made money because of him - people paid to watch him play, for his endorsement, the association also used him for advertisements. 'Still, he's as cheerful as ever. He's not the kind of person who will talk about what is happening in his life. 'It's really very sad that a legend is going through this.' ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mockngbrd Supersonic March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 he shd have just chilled out after making enough Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dafansu Turbocharged March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 he shd have just chilled out after making enough human are also greedy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karu 6th Gear March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 Not surprised... His 1 million made a decade ago should be almost gone with his biz failures & his family expenditure. It didn't help that his wife is ill. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scion Turbocharged March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 he shd have just chilled out after making enough when one suddenly makes his fortune, all the dog-pig friends will appear and offer all sorts of business and investment plans, or simply come to borrow money... i reckon Fandi is a nice guy who just couldn't bear to refuse.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunk Clutched March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 terrace house? No lah, it was a semi-detached house in Seletar Hills....it was within walking distance from my dad's house....as a teen, i saw him sometimes when i walked pass.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megaweb Clutched March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 I think he need to sell his private place in order to buy HDB. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whathefish 5th Gear March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 I always believe must be prepare for rainy days...like the Bee & Grasshopper story... Dont think the sun is always shining... That is wat I am trying to do now ..... save as much as possible... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfy3769 2nd Gear March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 look like financial difficulties could just be a sickness away or a fail biz away... financial stability look rather fragile in his context.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahtong 1st Gear March 7, 2011 Author Share March 7, 2011 when one suddenly makes his fortune, all the dog-pig friends will appear and offer all sorts of business and investment plans, or simply come to borrow money... i reckon Fandi is a nice guy who just couldn't bear to refuse.. This is what i think also. Kena brought down by parasites. Should also stick to his area of expertise rather than go into business time and time again. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zxcvb Turbocharged March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 This is what i think also. Kena brought down by parasites. Should also stick to his area of expertise rather than go into business time and time again. yeh! there was a detailed report on his business failure, friends borrowing money and so on. fandi is such a nice guy. but kenna all these parasite friends around him during his success. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timex1441 1st Gear March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 fandi's case is probably the same as how american athletes in NBA, NFL end up bankrupt despite earning millions of dollars. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darthrevan Supercharged March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 yeh! there was a detailed report on his business failure, friends borrowing money and so on. fandi is such a nice guy. but kenna all these parasite friends around him during his success. his wife Wendy told him no but he don't listen..lending $ and doing business with friends is a wrong mix..hence the downfall 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scion Turbocharged March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 fandi's case is probably the same as how american athletes in NBA, NFL end up bankrupt despite earning millions of dollars. perhaps some differences here... many NBA players or famous footballers decline so fast due to their splurge on fast cars, women, drugs, parties... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watwheels Supersonic March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 He forgot to factor in inflation lah. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahtong 1st Gear March 7, 2011 Author Share March 7, 2011 I wonder how exactly did the wife fall? After 2 years still cannot recover. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Summer69 Clutched March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 (edited) his wife Wendy told him no but he don't listen..lending $ and doing business with friends is a wrong mix..hence the downfall that's why wife must always be the CFO in the house....they are shrewd and thrifty. They don lend money to ppl easily. one method that works is when parasites wants to borrow money/ car/ stuff from you, just pretend to say need to consult spouse first because 50/50 share or joint account, the most effective way to get ride of parasites...either one must be the bad guy. but i admit relatives will be the toughest ...one super good method is say all your money put in fixed D, bond etc and most are 10 year term.... but if borrow money for child sch fee or hospital fees, guess most will lend bah. Edited March 7, 2011 by Summer69 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkingidiot 1st Gear March 7, 2011 Share March 7, 2011 i must say that both he and his wife are pretty good together... stay with each other thru thick and thin, till death do us part... .. in fact, when they first got together I had doubts will it last - she was a hot model and he was a hot hunk.. so many of these celebrity marriages end up in failure... it's heartwarming to note that these two are sticking out, for better or for worse. ↡ Advertisement 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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