I am Legend

Amid all the obscene figures being bandied around swelling the pockets of soccer personnel, the player who used to plunder vital goals for United has one immediate new goal - to help children in Africa.

After 11 years service to United, the Norwegian was forced to retire last August after years of knee problems at the age of 34. He will have an Old Trafford testimonial match against Espanyol on August 2. But a substantial portion of the potential £3m jackpot from that pre-season benefit match against the Spaniards will be going towards building schools in Angola, Uganda and Mozambique.

"You affect people's lives as a footballer because you create memories and happiness. But if you build a school you can change a whole life. You have something concrete, not just in your head."

"You can see kids getting out of the poverty they are in and maybe becoming doctors or teachers themselves."

"When I was granted my game I thought I can either do it quietly and give the money to Unicef or I could try and create something to help generate as much money as possible to this project."

"I wanted to use this opportunity to help others. I just felt doing this was right."

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"Form" is temporary; "Class" is permanent. But a "Legend" goes down in history.

A person become legendary not only because of what he achieved, but what he stands for.

A sampling of some local "legends" came into mind:
1) Sim Wong Hoo - CEO of Creative Technologies. Singapore's first technoprenuer. A poly boy made good. Yet he did not forget his humble beginnings and is active in philanthropy.

2) Fandi Ahmad - Singapore's most famous soccer export. A humble man who graduated from kicking soccer balls in kampung fields when he was young, to being the first Singaporean soccer player to grace European's UEFA Cup competition. Currently imparting his experience as a soccer coach.

3) Ang Peng Siong - Singapore most famous male swimmer, who once held the world no.1 ranking in the 50 m freestyle. Currently Team Singapore's swimming national coach.

All these men, are not only dedicated to excellence in their craft, but exemplary in their conduct, serving as role models for us to follow.

Would you follow their footsteps to be the next Singapore Legend?