Quah Kim Song on marrying Sylvia Lim: Finding precious companionship in later life

After 12 years of dating, WP chair Sylvia Lim and Singaporean football legend Quah Kim Song, who share a deep passion for music and sports, are still madly in love with each other. They have decided to take the next step in their relationship and will be exchanging vows in a beautiful church wedding in January 2025.

While they had previously stated that marriage was not on the cards, Ms Lim said on Oct 24 in response to queries from The Straits Times: “It takes time to know someone, and we were in no rush.”

But Quah, 72, added: “After 12 blissful and blessed years, we decided that it’s time for us to complete the journey, all the way.”

In the 1970s, he was a star striker nicknamed Quicksilver Quah, as he terrorised defences, famously scoring twice – including a diving-header winner off a Dollah Kassim free-kick – to help Singapore beat Penang 3-2 in the 1977 Malaysia Cup final.

Just like how teamwork is important in football, the widower – whose wife Shirley Wang died of cancer in 2007 – felt one should not journey through life alone.

Encouraging others to be courageous to pursue love even at an older age, he told ST: “Loneliness can be very frightening. It’s precious to have someone to share your life with in your older years.”

Quah added that his son Leon, 44, and daughter Leonora, 40, “are comfortable with the upcoming wedding after knowing Sylvia for nearly 12 years”, and that one of his granddaughters – he has five grandchildren – was surprised they are not married yet.

The occasion will be made more special as their marriage will be solemnised at Church of St Mary of the Angels, where Ms Lim used to be part of its choir.

The 59-year-old said: “Holy matrimony is a Catholic sacrament that we embrace. Having sung at many church weddings over the decades in that same church, finally I get to prepare for my own there. It’s amazing.”

Quah is also well-known for being able to carry a tune too.

It was reported that they first met at a WP charity concert in January 2013 and he had charmed Ms Lim with a song – there were differing accounts as to whether it was the Simon and Garfunkel hit El Condor Pasa or Keith Locke & The Quests’ Don’t Play That Song – before they danced together.

Not that it matters to Ms Lim, who said: “It was not the songs; it was his down-to-earth manner – for a sporting legend, that’s attractive.”

As she got to know Quah more, she also admired “his ability to see the wood for the trees”.

“He gives me good advice about how not to sweat the small stuff. This comes from his life experience,” added Ms Lim, who has been WP chair since 2003.