KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — Tears fell freely as many recalled happy memories of the late national goalkeeper Chow Chee Keong today.

At the Nirvana Memorial Centre here, relatives and old friends came to pay their last respects to one of the nation’s notable football personalities.

His widow Christina Kwok, 64, thanked the 50-strong crowd in attendance and said she did not wish for his funeral to be a sad occasion. 

"I do want to celebrate his life and how it was lived. We have had many tributes on social media, but there are two which were sent to us in the old-fashioned handwritten manner,” she said.

Reading from them, Christina said the first letter was from Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan, wife of the late MIC president Tun VT Sambanthan.

In it she offered her deepest condolences, and paid tribute to Chow who "enriched his country and the whole world” as well as "made us very proud of the place he achieved”.

The second letter was from veteran sports writer George Das. Among his words of comfort was that Chow’s work on earth may be done but his life in heaven was just beginning.

Chow's widow Christina Kwok giving an eulogy at her late husband's funeral service at the Nirvana Memorial Centre in Sungai Besi, February 24, 2018.

Also paying tribute to Chow was Datuk Peter Velappan, the former Asian Football Confederation general secretary from 1978 to 2007.

"I have known Chee Keong since he was 13. It is always a sad moment to say goodbye to a very dear friend,” he said in his eulogy.

He recalled how he was in England at the time when a young Chow sent him a note, expressing interest in joining an English football club.

"I was surprised but eventually assisted him in reaching there. Throughout his career he was not credited as one of Asia’s best goalkeepers, yet he showed in on the field,” said Peter.

He praised Chow’s dedication to football, reminiscing how during his time in the national team he would get up at 5am and be on the field by 6.30am to exercise and prepare for the day.

"He never boasted about his skill, despite his talent. When a person is no longer with us we look at the best qualities in their lives, and this is how we will remember Chee Keong,” he said.

The cortege later departed for Shah Alam where Chow was cremated.

Chow died on Wednesday aged 69, from a septicemia infection following a heart bypass operation on January 17.

He played for the national team from 1965 to 1985, and also played for several Hong Kong football teams from 1970 to 1982.

Chow's widow Christina and son Adrian walk behind the hearse as the funeral cortege departed for Shah Alam, February 24, 2018.