THE toes on his left leg, which used to serve him so well as a footballer, have all disappeared — amputated due to diabetes.
The glory days of Krishnasamy Veloo, who represented Malaysia at the 1972 Munich Olympics, are long gone, leaving him a forgotten man in a nursing home in Penang.
He is sick, old, and tired. And short of money too.
At the Munich Olympics, Malaysia played three matches: losing to West Germany 3-0 and Morocco 6-0 while beating the United States 3-0.
Midfielder Krishnasamy didn’t see action in any of the two matches that Malaysia lost but he played in the one that Malaysia won, against the USA.
Krishnasamy, 71, who retired as a sergeant major from the prisons department, is now an inmate of a nursing home, where he pays RM1,100 monthly.
Krishnasamy, whose eye sight and hearing are also fading, lamented that his pension money is not enough for him to get by. However, the FA of Malaysia have given him some assistance while Yakeb have pledged to help him.
Krishnasamy told Timesport he did not buy any house because when he was working, he stayed in government quarters with his family.
As his two children have their own families, it is difficult for them to take of him. Krishnasamy’s wife, who also needs health care, is staying with her daughter's family.
Krishnasamy said he has to go to hospital regularly to clean and dress his wounds. Fortunately, a friend provides transport.
Krishnasamy played for Penang Indian Association and Waterfall Rangers before representing Penang in the Burnley Cup where he was spotted by prisons department coach Jalil Che Din.
It was while turning out for prisons in the Taiping League that he was selected for the Perak state team, and the national team from 1967.
After his football career, Krishnasamy contributed as a technical official in the Penang Amateur Athletic Association for many years.
For those who wish to help Krishnasamy, he can be contacted at 017-5555294.