Cai Wenli

Cai Wenli was the first player from Singapore to represent the China at the Olympic Games. His family came from the island of Kinmen in Fujian Province, but ran a chicken shop in Singapore, leading to his nickname of “Towkay Ayam” (Chicken Boss). Cai played as a left back for the Singapore Chinese Football Association, representing Singapore in the Malaya Cup for a period of 15 years (1922-37), and winning the cup five times.

After an outstanding performance as captain of the Malayan Chinese football team at the Sixth All-China Games in Shanghai, Cai Wenli was selected to represent China at the 1936 Berlin Olympics but did not play. He was also an excellent track and field athlete and won three titles in the 100 m, 400 m, and 800 m, and placed second in the 200 m at the All-Malay Chinese National Games in 1931. After World War II, Cai worked for the Singapore Chinese Football Association as an advisor and coached the team of the Singapore Rovers. He also played occasionally for a veterans’ team.