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Take out soccer legend Gabriel Batistuta's trademark locks, beard and moustache, and he would be able to go around Singapore incognito. Or so he thought. Until the holidaying Argentinian visited the Night Safari on the eve of Singapore's National Day and he met the Rahmat family. There, 15-year-old Nadhirah Rahmat and her family were standing side by side with the 'tall man with blond hair and a pretty wife and beautiful kids'.

'He looks like Batistuta,' Nadhirah's soccer-fanatic father, Rahmat, whispered to her. Rahmat drew enough courage later to ask: 'Gabriel Batistuta?' Replied the handsone stranger: 'Yes, sir, I am Gabriel Batistuta.' Rahmat's face lit up like the National Day fireworks as he was overjoyed to be standing beside one of the world's greatest football players. 'What a trip that was for our family, especially for dad,' said Nadhirah, a Secondary Three student at Siglap Secondary School. But what was Batistuta doing in Singapore? Shopping at Sim Lim, just like his younger countryman, Manu Ginobilis?

'I am here with my family to enjoy the sights and sounds of Singapore,' Batistuta, popularly known to international fans as 'Batigol', told The New Paper. 'Also watch some basketball and support Argentina in the Philips Cup,' added the former basketball player in his teenage years. Was he also going to Japan next week for the world championships? 'I don't have plans yet, but because my family are now staying in Perth, Japan is just a hop away,' he said.

Batistuta showed up in a white polo shirt, slacks and loafers unnoticed by spectators and the media just after 6.30 pm at the Singapore Indoor Stadium to watch the match between Argentina and Serbia Montenegro. His wife, Irina, and four sons, Thiago (14), Lucas (12), Joaquin and Shamel (2) were in tow. They seemed like your ordinary family out for a good basketball game on a humid Friday night. It was not until half-time before the spectators around him took notice of the gentleman with a stately wife and well-behaved kids. Leon Tan and his friends, seated just a row in front, were among the first to jump off their seats. 'Oh my God, it's Gabriel Batistuta, I think,' shrieked sales manager Celeste Png, 28 as the footballer's entourage glided past to go to the VIP Room.

ABUZZ

Soon, the entire section was abuzz. Batistuta retired from professional football on 14 March, 2005 after a glittering career in international and club football. How's life after football? 'I'm taking my time, enjoying my life with my family,' he said. 'These are probably the happiest moments of my life.' Rumours are rife that he would be involved in managing a Perth club, remain there for three years, and eventually proceed to Europe, perhaps England or Italy for a management job. He remains tight-lipped for now. Truly a private guy who'd rather remain incognito.

The Night Safari is always full of nocturnal surprises. Little did I know there was a bigger surprise in store for me and my family when we went to Mandai, on the eve of National Day, to celebrate my sister's birthday. We expected to see many of the 900 nocturnal animals from 135 species that roam 40 hectares of Singapore forest. We were really set for a true-night animal date. The last thing we ever imagined, even as a soccer-fanatic family, was to meet a legendary World Cup star. So, catching up with Gabrielle Batistuta and his family was like a dream come true.

It started when my brother spoke to a South American teenager among a group of tourists waiting for the animal show to begin. My father later spoke to the 14-year-old and learned that he was from Argentina. Gabrielle Batistuta, throughout the conversation, just kept quiet. He wanted to keep a low profile and feared that my father, who has a keen eye for recognising the world's top footballers, would make him out. Poor Batistuta. He desperately didn't want anybody to recognise him. As the gates to the animal show opened, we rushed for the first bench - right in front of the stage.

Midway through the show, when the organisers requested for volunteers, one of Batistuta's sons raised his hand. His second son, Lucas, was chosen to come on up. Batistuta must be a very lucky man with four sons in tow, the youngest so adorable as he was always sucking on his pacifier. After Lucas came forward, the organisers requested for a bigger volunteer and Lucas picked out his famous father. Poor Batistuta. Never someone who wanted the spotlight, least of all at Singapore's world-famous Night Safari, he went up on stage - and ended up with a huge snake wrapped around him. Yes, he looked scared and a little disgusted at the same time.

After the show, my father, who observed him closely during his encounter with the snake, asked him if he was the famous Argentinian footballer. And the truth came out. Batistuta reluctantly nodded his head. Wow, we were thrilled. And suddenly the word got around like wild fire and a posse of fans started to mill around the Argentinian VIP. Cameras started clicking and Batistuta and his family sportingly obliged everyone who wanted a special photo for the family album. Following the impromptu photo-shoot, we spoke to the Batistuta family.

ASIAN HOLIDAY

They were on an Asian holiday following his retirement from top-class football last year. Batistuta, known to his endearing fans as 'Batigol', first appeared in the Argentina squad 11 years ago. He played in three World Cups and scored 56 career goals for his nation. He's so popular in Argentina that after Jose Pekerman (the World Cup Germany 2006 coach) announced his intention to step down, Batistuta and Diego Maradona were among the first names to be linked with the coaching role. Looking back, I must thank my father for his sharp-eyed instincts because otherwise we would never have had a dream-come-true date with one of the world's legendary footballers. Life, like the Night Safari, is unpredictable and full of surprises. You will never know who you are going to meet or what is going to happen next. My dream-come-true meeting with Batistuta and his family - on the eve of Singapore's 41st birthday - was the best birthday present for my sister, and a real treat for all the family

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