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Coach linked to bribe scandal
A professional Singapore footballer has insisted that a former coach of Malaysia's national team tried to bribe him to let in two or three goals during a local club match in June 2005.
Chow Kwai Lam is on trial, charged with match fixing.
"He says 'let in two or three goals'," Paya Lebar-Punggol FC goalkeeper Zulkifli Zainolabidin told a district court Thursday.
He was responding to a question from Chow's lawyer, Hamidul Haq, who asked what his client had said to him in a phone conversation on June 4, 2005.
Zulkifli said Chow also promised to pay him 200-300 Singapore dollars (131-196 US) as advance payment for letting the opposition score two or three goals, and an unspecified amount after the match.
During cross-examination, Zulkifli also said he "cannot remember" Chow, former coach of the Singapore club, constantly reminding his players not to get involved with match fixing.
According to Haq, it was Chow's normal practice "to remind players about the dangers of match fixing and not to get involved" in it.
Chow faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of 100,000 dollars if convicted on the accusation of bribery.
His trial began Wednesday and is scheduled to end on Friday.
- AFP
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