Xie Wenliang

Xie Wenliang, also known by his Singaporean name of Chia Boon Leong, took up football at a young age and made up for his small stature with his impressive skill. In 1938, he was a founding member of the Pasir Panjang Rovers, a football team becoming well known in Malaya’s football scene including the Singapore championships in 1948. Before the Pacific War came to Singapore, Xie attended the Raffles Institution. He continued to play during the war and made Singapore’s representative team after the liberation. His talents led him to be chosen to represent China at the 1948 London Olympics, where the nation was eliminated in round one by Turkey in a 4-0 shutout. Xie had more success at the Malaya Cup where, representing Singapore, he helped his nation win three consecutive titles from 1950 through 1952 as inside-left. He also represented Singapore at the 1954 Asian Games, where the country drew one and lost one of its preliminary matches and was eliminated. Voted Singapore’s top player, Xie would go to England and attend a coaching course at London’s top club Arsenal. Still with the Pasir Panjang Rovers, he retired from active competition in 1955 and took up a career in finance with a radio service company, although the lure of football led him to several administrative roles, including that of Singaporean National Team manager in the late 1970s.