SIX years ago he was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of cancer.

He was only 14 then but he vowed to fight the illness – with his hockey stick.

Mohammad Fazly’s ambition then was not only to win his battle against cancer, but to play the sport for Singapore one day.

He has done both. He has not only been cleared of the disease by his doctors, he is in the national men’s squad, having competed in the recent Arafura Games in Australia.

Singapore lost 0-2 to Northern Territories in the final. But it was a major victory for Fazly.

He told The New Paper at the Delta Sports Complex last week: ‘I am now more confident of myself. The doctors told me that I’m in remission.

‘I still go for regular check-ups every six months but I feel really healthy.

‘The crucial period was last October when the five years after treatment were up. It was a nervy time but they said I was clear.

‘What is important is that it does not affect my hockey.’

As if to prove it, he was faster than half his national team-mates when they did a modified beep shuttle test (used for fitness training) after a relatively tough workout for almost two hours.

‘My place in the squad is not guaranteed. It’s important that I keep pace with the rest of the team and play well when given the opportunity,’ said Fazly, who turned 20 yesterday.

No wonder then that the Singapore Hockey Federation (SHF) is nominating him for the Singapore Sports Council’s Sporting Inspiration Awards this year.

Said SHF president Annabel Dillon-Pennefather: ‘When we decided to nominate Fazly for the award in the under-21 category, it was not a difficult decision because the words inspiration, courage, leadership and determination come naturally to mind when you know the tremendous challenges and odds he has bravely faced and overcome to be a member of our national men’s squad.

‘He has dared to realise a dream which others in his position may have never even dared to dream.

‘I feel very proud and privileged to know him and we in the SHF will endeavour to give him our fullest support and encouragement to achieve all that he would like to achieve in hockey and also in his pursuit of a career as a physical education teacher.’

Fazly was drafted into the Raffles Institution squad in 2000, the year before he was told he had cancer.

He made his mind up immediately.

‘I was determined to play hockey for the school and decided that I was not going to allow the cancer to stop me.

‘Going on to play for Victoria JC was in my sights, but making the national team is a dream come true.

‘My passion for hockey, together with the support of family, teachers and friends has kept me going.’

Six chemotherapy sessions plus medication while training with the squad saw him through the most difficult time of his life.

But he came out stronger.

He not only captained the RI team in 2001 but was instrumental in it winning the Schools’ National title.

And he went on to play in the national under-15 squad the following year, before making it to the Combined Schools team the next three years.

He made his national team debut in Australia last year and then played against Asian giants Pakistan and India at a Singapore invitational tournament.

The soft-spoken but quietly confident boy was surprised to be nominated for the Inspiration Award.

‘I did not expect to be nominated,’ he said, showing the same humility as when he spoke to this reporter in 2001.

‘I really don’t see myself as inspirational, I’m just living my life to the best as does everyone else.

‘I am honoured to play for Singapore, hoping to be accepted by the National Institute of Education for my studies and really thankful to teachers and friends from my primary and secondary schools, JC and now the SHF, for their support.’

His next ambition is to return to RI to teach and coach hockey.

His personal secret to fighting the illness is to think positive.

‘It is seeing the glass as half full and going on to hopefully fill it to the brim,’ he said.

‘The next thing is to keep close to family, who will always be there to support you. And then there are some really close friends to keep you happy.’

And of course, in his case, there was and, hopefully, there will always be, hockey.

Courtesy: The New Paper