Ex S’wak footballer Bobby Chua stricken with ALS
KUCHING: Many local football fans, especially the older generation, would remember Bobby Chua Kim Lun’s contribution to the Sarawak team in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The player, 52, who hails from Inanam, Sabah has been struck with an illness known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control.
He was reportedly diagnosed with the disease in 2018 and has spent hundreds of thousands of ringgit for medical care but still needs further treatment.
“I will continue to fight this disease because it may have paralysed my body but it does not paralyse my spirit,” he told Utusan Borneo in Sabah recently.
His plight caught the attention of Sabah Football Association (SAFA) which made a contribution of RM300,000 to assist him last week.
“I would also like to thank the people who are concerned about my condition and pray for my health. I also would like to thank SAFA especially the association’s acting president Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin who acted quickly to help me to receive treatment,” he said.
Bobby played in the Sabah squad which won the FA Cup title in 1995 and the Premier League title in 1996 (the nation’s top tier at the time).
Known as a tireless worker who played in all outfield positions he decided to migrate to Sarawak in 1998.
He made news as he was released by Sabah for a record low transfer fee of RM9.95, believed to be a sign of protest.
However, he helped Sarawak to capture the Charity Shield in his first season in 1998. The following year he and the Crocs entered the Malaysia Cup final only to be beaten 1-2 by Brunei.
Bobby ended his 15-year career as a professional player with Sarawak in 2004.