Starting from the 1960s, with the promulgation of a 1959 presidential decree as a consequence of the 1956 racist policy in the country, many soccer players with Chinese backgrounds strengthening Persebaya, had to abandon the game for business and higher education.

In fact, the 1950s saw a number achievers who helped advance Persebaya to the top rank of national champion in 1952, such as Phoa Sian Long, Liem Tjay Hie, Kho Thiam Gwan, Liem Tiong Hoo, Bhe Ing Hien, and Tee San Liong. Liem Tiong Hoo is the oldest athlete.

"I turned down offers to play in a Nationalist Chinese Republic club and Feyenoord Football Club of Holland. I'm not a citizen of China or Holland, I'm an Indonesian," he told The Jakarta Post recently.

The Chinese club offer came when it had a match with Persebaya in Surabaya around 1952, while the Feyenoord offer was first made by a Dutch Marine Corps captain on duty in Indonesia. Both clubs were interested in the Liem Tiong Hoo's maneuvers as a center forward.

As a child, Liem Tiong Hoo was fond of soccer. His secondary school, Dutch Algemeene Middelbare School (AMS), was close to the Cannalaan soccer field, where several Chinese soccer clubs affiliated with Soerabaiasche Voetbal Bond (SVB) trained. Its members included Houd Braef Standt, Exelcior, Tot Heil Onzer Ribben, Gie Hoo, and Annasher.

"At first I was only watching. Later they asked me to play due to an athlete shortage. Finally, in 1943, when I was just 17, the management of Persebaya invited me to join Persebaya," Liem said.

Persebaya stars, among defense trio S - Sidi, Sidik, Sadran - and two best forwards Bhe Ing Hien and Tee San Liong had joined this team earlier. With Liem's entry, Persebaya's defense and front line became even more formidable to its opponents.

Persebaya was triumphant in several tournaments in different cities such as Jakarta, Semarang and Bandung. "I have false teeth due to some rough matches. But that's all a part of the game," he remarked.

Moreover, Liem also had to delay his medical exams at the School of Medicine, Airlangga University, finishing his study three years late. "I attended lectures in the morning, trained for soccer in the afternoon and did practical duties in the evening. When matches were held, I had to postpone my tests," he revealed.

Apart from being skilled in soccer, Liem worked as lecturer in the same School of Medicine, although he could not abandon the soccer field to support Persebaya.

"At the time there was no racism in soccer as there is today. Team supporters were also properly behaved. Team players, officials and referees observed sportsmanship," he pointed out. He only noted one game in which hooligans hurled something at a Dutch club player in Indonesia but the action was limited to the stadium.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) offered Liem to join the national team for the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. But he could not accept it as he had to complete study for the sake of Persebaya. Then the PSSI exempted him from selection and training for the national team membership. Liem said, "To be consistent, I wasn't entitled to join the team without selection and training," he said.

Under Soeharto's New Order government, Liem changed his name to Hendro Hoediono. A number of Chinese citizens were also obliged to do this with the announcement of a Home Minister instruction in 1977 on population registration directives.

The Chinese soccer club association, formed on Jan. 1, 1908, a long time before Indonesia's independence, turned into Suryanaga in 1966, several years after the enforcement of the 1959 presidential decree.

Despite the rechristening and many Chinese Indonesians forgoing soccer due to the racist government ruling, Suryanaga managed to produce reliable footballers such as Rudy William Keltjes, Djoko Malis Mustafa, Wayan Diana, Rae Bawa, and "golden head" Syamsul Arifin, all shining in the period from 1970s to 1980s.

In addition to soccer, Suryanaga also turned out well-known badminton players: Nyoo Kim Bie in end-1950 and the 1960s, Maria Fransisca, Sri Wiyanti (1970s and 1980s), Jeffer Rosobin, Tri Kusharyanto (1990s), and the latest generation of Soni Dwi Kuncoro and Alvent Yulianto.

What about the fate of Persebaya players of the 1950s? "They are like shoes, discarded after wearing out. Sadran, my close friend and the top player, died tragically," recalled Liem.

Liem feels grateful for his profession as a dermatologist, enabling him to send his three children to college. One of his grandchildren has also won a top position in the Asian Karting Championship and received a government award.

Although Liem has no longer watched Persebaya play because of declining health, his love for football, particularly Persebaya, has not waned, as proven by his regular tax payment.

Will Chinese youths play with and contribute to the reputation of Persebaya or Indonesia as they did in the1950s? Liem Tiong Hoo said he was convinced of their comeback.

"Soccer is the most interesting game. Sports can be played by everybody regardless of their religion, race and nationality," he maintained.

It's not an impossible dream. When Zeng Cheng, goalkeeper from China, supported Persebaya in the 2007 season, many Chinese community members thronged Tambaksari Stadium in Surabaya to witness the performance of Persebaya.

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