TECHNICIAN Anthony Tan was horrified.
A football was flying straight towards his pregnant wife.
He and his wife were walking on the void deck of their block on Chai Chee Street.
The 32-year-old quickly blocked the ball with his hands.
He said: "It missed her stomach by a few centimetres. It would have hit her and hurt the baby had I not stopped the ball in time.
"My wife was horrified."
She was eight months pregnant with their first child then. She has since given birth to a healthy baby boy.
But on that same day in May, as the couple walked towards the lift, a teenager on rollerblades came rushing towards them.
"I put out my leg and the boy fell right in front of me," said Mr Tan.
"If I hadn't put out my leg, he would have crashed into my wife.
"I would rather the pair of rollerblades ran over my foot than my wife."
Although he was angry, Mr Tan didn't lodge a complaint with the town council, thinking it was just a coincidence.
Then, just a week later, Mr Tan was pushing his 70-year-old wheelchair-bound father-in-law back to his flat when a football came flying towards the old man's head.
Again, some teenage boys were playing football at the void deck.
"I was furious and shaken," said Mr Tan.
"My father-in-law had had a stroke and the doctor said that if anything were to hit his head, it could endanger his life.
"I've seen many old people walking around or just sitting and chatting at the void decks and these children just kick the balls around.
"The void decks have become dangerous places for people to gather."
LODGED COMPLAINT After this, Mr Tan lodged a complaint with his town council.
"Some policemen came down to check and warned the children not to play at the void decks. But after a few days, these kids were back playing football," said Mr Tan.
He also found many football marks on the white walls of the void decks.
"Not only do these children dirty the place and disturb the peace of the neighbourhood by shouting during their football games, they are also a threat to the people walking there."
Another resident complained about the noise caused by children playing at void decks.
"They play at the void deck every day, though there's a field nearby," said housewife Madam PC Tan who lives in Tampines.
"They shout and talk very loudly at the void decks. Especially when they play football on weekends, they scream when someone scores a goal. They don't know they are very annoying."
Added Mr Tan: "I hope something can be done about this problem. We shouldn't wait till someone is killed. Prevention is always better than cure."
Muz be those Blady Huang Kia or Keleng Kia playing football!!! Everytime play football at my flat downstairz and whenever me coming back frm work, they alwayz choose to play PENALTY SHOOTOUT AT THAT TIME!!! FUCK!!!!!
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