Kept away in Mr Raymond Chong’s bedroom in his two-storey apartment is an outfit so precious, he keeps it in a vacuum-sealed bag.

It is a blue jumpsuit with a plunging neckline and adorned with sequins.

While the 54-year-old remisier probably wouldn’t be caught dead wearing this flamboyant outfit in public now, it holds a special memory for him – it was what he wore when he was crowned Singapore’s disco king over 30 years ago.

In 1980, when he was 18, Mr Chong beat more than 30 other dancers from all over the world to clinch second place in the EMI World Disco Dancing Championship.

“My friend who owned a boutique gave me the costume as a gift and told me I would look good dancing in it,” says Mr Chong, who is married with four children.

“I’m quite surprised that after all these years, it still fits!”

Recently, a video of Mr Chong’s fancy footwork made its rounds online. New York fashion magazine Hint shared a video of the 1980 competition on Nov 4. It now has more than six million views.

A video of the 1979 edition of the contest, which featured Singaporean Derek Joseph, also made its rounds on social media.

Mr Chong, who was surprised at the popularity of the video, laughs as he tells The New Paper on Sunday: “I guess disco is still stayin’ alive!

“It has been such a long time, but winning that competition is still one of the best moments of my life.”

Mr Chong represented Singapore on the international dance floor after he was crowned winner of the Singapore Disco Dancing Competition that year.

Framed medals from the competitions – a testament to his outstanding achievements – now hang on the wall of his room. But the champion reveals that at the time, he had only just picked up disco dancing.

With a little over a year’s experience dancing at disco clubs, Mr Chong did not expect to get into the finals, let alone represent Singapore.

He says he was influenced by disco movies such as Saturday Night Fever and Roller Boogie. But he also cultivated his own style by drawing inspiration from other dances, including breakdancing and salsa.

Mr Chong says: “I’m a natural-born dancer because I can hear the music, look at the style and come up with my own. That’s why I did not need any formal training.

“I liked to dance and I wanted to dance as much as possible, so I tried all the styles I could. When I performed disco, I put together all the styles that I saw and made my own.”

Cutting a humble figure, he adds: “I had no idea I could even win, there were so many good dancers.”

Although he was certified as the best disco dancer here, Mr Chong knew his limited experience and skills were not enough. So, in the months before competing internationally, he worked on his sense of rhythm and perfected his dance moves.

KEPT ON DANCING

He says: “I knew I had to train harder and be more creative, so I kept on dancing to polish my skills.”

His efforts paid off. On Dec 16, 1980, Mr Chong placed second in the world championship, which was held in London.

When asked if he was disappointed over missing out on first place, which went to the contestant from South Africa, Mr Chong laughs before saying that he was happy just to get into the finals. But he cheekily admits that it made him happy to perform better than the United States contestant.

He says: “Disco began from the US and was so popular there. It felt good to have performed better than them.”

Mr Chong came back a hero and was instantly recognised in disco clubs such as Studio M and Copacabana, just like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

In fact, Mr Chong was so popular that he was booked for guest performances, and was even asked to judge dance competitions.

With a shy smile, he says: “People would come up to me, give me high-fives and say hi. Sometimes, they made way for me to dance disco.”

Mr Chong’s wife, Ms Shirley Cheo, 46, had no idea he was a disco legend when she first met him.

The pair met when Mr Chongwas helping to choreograph a dance routine for Ms Cheo during Chingay in 1987.

“I did not know he was a disco king – it was only after we started going out that I found out. It was quite surprising,” says Ms Cheo.

Did the pair go dancing together?

Ms Cheo laughs, then says: “Not really, he is so much better than me.”

Even as the disco trend started dying, Mr Chong never gave up the funk. As a hobby, he started picking up other styles of dances and teaching them, a practice he still keeps up today.

It seems that the dancing bug is hereditary – all of Mr Chong’s four children, aged 11 to 19, are seasoned performers who enjoy dancing to Latin and K-pop music.

Eve, 17, says: “Disco is not really my thing, but it’s great that daddy still enjoys dancing. I’m proud of him.”

Mr Chong does not look like he will stop dancing any time soon.

During the interview, he did an impromptu performance for TNPS while decked out in the outfit he wore 30 years ago.

As he caught his breath, amid the applause from his proud children, he says: “Disco allows you to be creative, it’s full of life and energy. It really was one of the best.”

Kept away in Mr Raymond Chong’s bedroom in his two-storey apartment is an outfit so precious, he keeps it in a vacuum-sealed bag.

It is a blue jumpsuit with a plunging neckline and adorned with sequins.

While the 54-year-old remisier probably wouldn’t be caught dead wearing this flamboyant outfit in public now, it holds a special memory for him – it was what he wore when he was crowned Singapore’s disco king over 30 years ago.

In 1980, when he was 18, Mr Chong beat more than 30 other dancers from all over the world to clinch second place in the EMI World Disco Dancing Championship.

“My friend who owned a boutique gave me the costume as a gift and told me I would look good dancing in it,” says Mr Chong, who is married with four children.

“I’m quite surprised that after all these years, it still fits!”

Recently, a video of Mr Chong’s fancy footwork made its rounds online. New York fashion magazine Hint shared a video of the 1980 competition on Nov 4. It now has more than six million views.

A video of the 1979 edition of the contest, which featured Singaporean Derek Joseph, also made its rounds on social media. (See report on facing page.)

Mr Chong, who was surprised at the popularity of the video, laughs as he tells The New Paper on Sunday: “I guess disco is still stayin’ alive!

“It has been such a long time, but winning that competition is still one of the best moments of my life.”

Mr Chong represented Singapore on the international dance floor after he was crowned winner of the Singapore Disco Dancing Competition that year.

Framed medals from the competitions – a testament to his outstanding achievements – now hang on the wall of his room. But the champion reveals that at the time, he had only just picked up disco dancing.

With a little over a year’s experience dancing at disco clubs, Mr Chong did not expect to get into the finals, let alone represent Singapore.

He says he was influenced by disco movies such as Saturday Night Fever and Roller Boogie. But he also cultivated his own style by drawing inspiration from other dances, including breakdancing and salsa.

Mr Chong says: “I’m a natural-born dancer because I can hear the music, look at the style and come up with my own. That’s why I did not need any formal training.

“I liked to dance and I wanted to dance as much as possible, so I tried all the styles I could. When I performed disco, I put together all the styles that I saw and made my own.”

Cutting a humble figure, he adds: “I had no idea I could even win, there were so many good dancers.”

Although he was certified as the best disco dancer here, Mr Chong knew his limited experience and skills were not enough. So, in the months before competing internationally, he worked on his sense of rhythm and perfected his dance moves.

KEPT ON DANCING

He says: “I knew I had to train harder and be more creative, so I kept on dancing to polish my skills.”

His efforts paid off. On Dec 16, 1980, Mr Chong placed second in the world championship, which was held in London.

When asked if he was disappointed over missing out on first place, which went to the contestant from South Africa, Mr Chong laughs before saying that he was happy just to get into the finals. But he cheekily admits that it made him happy to perform better than the United States contestant.

He says: “Disco began from the US and was so popular there. It felt good to have performed better than them.”

Mr Chong came back a hero and was instantly recognised in disco clubs such as Studio M and Copacabana, just like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

In fact, Mr Chong was so popular that he was booked for guest performances, and was even asked to judge dance competitions.

With a shy smile, he says: “People would come up to me, give me high-fives and say hi. Sometimes, they made way for me to dance disco.”

Mr Chong’s wife, Ms Shirley Cheo, 46, had no idea he was a disco legend when she first met him.

The pair met when Mr Chongwas helping to choreograph a dance routine for Ms Cheo during Chingay in 1987.

“I did not know he was a disco king – it was only after we started going out that I found out. It was quite surprising,” says Ms Cheo.

Did the pair go dancing together?

Ms Cheo laughs, then says: “Not really, he is so much better than me.”

Even as the disco trend started dying, Mr Chong never gave up the funk. As a hobby, he started picking up other styles of dances and teaching them, a practice he still keeps up today.

It seems that the dancing bug is hereditary – all of Mr Chong’s four children, aged 11 to 19, are seasoned performers who enjoy dancing to Latin and K-pop music.

Eve, 17, says: “Disco is not really my thing, but it’s great that daddy still enjoys dancing. I’m proud of him.”

Mr Chong does not look like he will stop dancing any time soon.

During the interview, he did an impromptu performance for TNPS while decked out in the outfit he wore 30 years ago.

As he caught his breath, amid the applause from his proud children, he says: “Disco allows you to be creative, it’s full of life and energy. It really was one of the best.”

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

GROUP F

ENGLAND 3
(Daniel Sturridge 24, Adam Lallana 50, 
Gary Cahill 61)

SCOTLAND 0

Despite winning the “Battle of Britain” yesterday morning (Singapore time), the Three Lions are still a limited side with lots to work to do ahead of their friendly against Spain next week.

Here are the chinks that Gareth Southgate (below) will have to iron out.

1. WINNING BATTLE OF DINOSAURS NO BIG DEAL

At times, the slow, plodding contest at Wembley yesterday morning felt so Jurassic, it was a wonder that velociraptors didn’t scamper across the pitch.

England against Scotland is considered to be the world’s oldest international fixture, beginning back to 1872.

The two nations appeared to have borrowed the tactics from that era, too.

Aside from the three headed goals, nothing of any real aesthetic value actually happened.

For a fixture that had wallowed in a whirlpool of hype and nostalgia for a week, this didn’t evoke the stirring lines from Braveheart but the lyrics from The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

Scotland are fifth in the Group F standings, above only Malta, and yet until the first goal went in, they were the superior side.

Tactically, England were all over the place and struggled to overcome a side filled with journeymen and Championship players.

Southgate demanded a patriotic performance, hearts on sleeves and so forth. Instead his footballers performed as if fitted with pacemakers.

Must England’s performances always be so tedious? 

2. THEY SHALL NOT PASS

Even against truly terrible opposition, the Three Lions failed to retain possession.

Their persistent sloppiness was occasionally bewildering. Coming a day after Brazil’s passing masterclass against Argentina, watching England felt like a punishment.

Apart from Joe Hart, the other 10 Lions all play in the English Premier League, a pinball machine of a competition, so the ability to pass and move should be second nature.

Of course, most EPL players and coaches are not English and, when the foreign security blanket is yanked away in international fixtures, the three Lions’ dreadful distribution is ruthlessly exposed.

Wayne Rooney gave the ball away all over the pitch. Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson continued to find Scotland’s pink jerseys, but rarely each other.

Only Adam Lallana, an excellent distributor, and Raheem Sterling, of all people, covered themselves in any sort of passing glory.

Rooney’s tendency to drop deeper and deeper not only saw him get in Henderson’s way, but the pair of them also often bungled the ball between them.

In fact, Scotland should have scored when Ikechi Anya pinched the ball from a dithering Rooney early in the second half.

England’s inability to maintain possession extends back to the Roy Hodgson era and Southgate’s three games have all been pockmarked with sloppy passing.

The new coach must somehow go back to basics when it comes to keeping the ball. England can’t play Scotland all the time.

3. STONES MUST 
STICK TO THE JOB

John Stones (above, in white) lifts the spirits whenever he’s in possession. Pep Guardiola’s admiration is understandable.

Stones’ raw talent could parachute him into Barcelona’s back four and he’d be in comfortable surroundings. Unfortunately, he was playing for England at Wembley.

In football terms, if Barcelona play on a red carpet, then this was a scratchy affair played on sandpaper.

And Stones made too many mistakes, basic positional and defending errors that were hard to ignore.

Of course, the obvious counter argument is the 22-year-old should be allowed the odd blunder to ensure he retains the confident, swashbuckling qualities of a Spanish centre back, rather than be crushed into an old-school English hoofer.

Rio Ferdinand has said as much. But even Ferdinand acknowledges that Roy Keane was always on hand in training to point out that a defender’s job, in the first instance, is to do just that.

Defend first. Play later. Stones is among the best in the EPL at the latter, but he’s still having problems with the former.

4. FIX THE POSITIONS, SOUTHGATE

The Three Lions top Group F, but their early dominance means next to nothing.

England haven’t lost a qualifying match since 2009, a run that now extends to 33 games, but the unbeaten streak achieved little beyond artificially inflating expectations.

Once the Finals come around, opponents are usually queuing up to expose England’s tactical limitations and positional indiscipline. Those problems remain locked in the Three Lions’ DNA.

Rooney drifted where he pleased. Apart from his cross for Gary Cahill’s headed goal, his contribution was negligible.

Dier kept popping up in the back four, a position he often occupies with Tottenham, but it was never clear what he was meant to be doing at Wembley.

In fact, that central trio of Rooney, Dier and Henderson epitomised England’s longstanding confusion.

Central midfield remains a riddle wrapped in a Three Lions jersey.

Henderson’s role at Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool is clearly defined. At Wembley, he wandered forward, rather aimlessly.

Rooney occasionally drifted behind the Liverpool midfielder.

If Southgate gets the nod for the job on a full-time basis, his first port of call should be the centre circle of a training pitch.

Fix the positions and responsibilities of his midfielders. Enforce a degree of tactical discipline to ensure that when the tournament comes around, England might hang around for a bit longer.

Beating Scotland pleased the flag-waving patriots, but there was little on show to impress the purists.

The Three Lions are halfway to Russia 2018, but still a long way from any sort of World Cup redemption.

GROUP E RESULTS

• Denmark 4 Kazakhstan 1
• Romania 0 Poland 3
• Armenia 3 Montenegro 2

GROUP F RESULTS

• England 3 Scotland 0
• Malta 0 Slovenia 1
• Slovakia 4 Lithuania 0

SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament joined senior executives to take part in the M1 Corporate Netball Challenge on Saturday (Nov 12).

A total of 41 corporate teams took part in the event at Kallang Netball Centre. They included teams from banks, legal and audit firms, as well as from multinational corporations and government-linked companies.

New Zealand netball legend, Leana de Bruin – a World Champion and Commonwealth Games double gold medallist – was also at the event to meet participants and fans.

She also played in an exhibition game which featured Members of Parliament such as Minister for Social & Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin and Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck.

Minister Tan Chuan-Jin in action during the M1 Corporate Netball Challenge. (Photo Netball Singapore)

MP Jessica Tan – also the president of Netball Singapore – was pleased with the corporate participation at the event: “Seeing returning companies and new companies forming teams to participate in the M1 Corporate Netball Challenge is very heartening. It is particularly great to see colleagues, male and female, coming together during a weekend to play netball and enjoying the game.”

M1 also donated S$50,000 to charities focusing on underprivileged children and at-risk youth, in conjunction with the event.