The End of PSC Dream

The PSC dream was plagued with many challenges along the way. In the course of PSC history, many outstanding youth players like Eddy Tay, Colin Tay, Tan Hun Weng, Chong Khin Loke, Stanley Leong, Bey Soo Kiang, Jimi Koh, Leong Yew Cheong, Tan Ai Huat could have been selected for the national squad if not for personal priorities and career endeavours which took precedence over personal interests. The political climate during that period was definitely not in PSC’s favour. The fact that PSC was operating on a rented premise and was predominantly the main water polo feeder club to the national water polo squad did not help at all.

Eventually, PSC suffered the consequences of being too dominant in water polo during that era and was eventually sidelined by unfavorable circumstances; it was continually shortchanged by dubious decisions during tournaments and national selection of water polo players. By the late 1970s, the club was driven into obscurity and many of the players became demoralised and uninterested. The club’s standard began to decline.

By then, water polo in PSC was confined to only Intra-club activities, resulting in loss of publicity and difficulties in attracting and recruiting new players. Schools also stopped sending their students to train at the Club. The curtain for PSC finally fell in 1982 when Singapore Sports Council decided to close the Yan Kit Swimming Pool, presumably to redevelop that land. The Club was offered another venue at the Pandan Garden to continue it’s activities but the PSC Management Committee decided not take up the offer due to the inconvenient location and to close the Club.

The facility at the Yan Kit Swimming Pool has been left vacant and unused to this day. The Yan Kit Swimming Pool remains a great reminder of the powerful PSC Water Polo team of yesteryears.