Ups And Downs
There were mixed feelings for this season's concluding dinner at the Pan Pacific, with Grilled Birds' rising fortunes contrasting only too sharply with those of Bunnies and International; the Birds had, of course, captured the Sapphire Challenger Cup trophy while navigating to a credible top-half finish in Division Two, as opposed to their brother clubs getting relegated. Birds head coach
Tian Yonghang tried to downplay the disparity as much as he could, as he took to the stage to present his club's individual awards.
Tian also took the opportunity to confirm reports that he had been in for multi-talented French midfielder Thomas Dubos, formerly of Austrian third division outfit Akivist Dunkle Pumpe. "Dubos was definitely on our radar, and we actually made a solid offer, but were not willing to raise it to what Geneva Eagles did." Tian clarified. The Swiss V.24 winners would ultimately sign the 30 year-old, for just over S$7.3 million.
He would not comment further on whether the club had also been looking at Goedkope Energie's Spanish playmaker Manuel Lima or Unpredictable Little Mice's ex-Motswana youth international Baruti Khunwane, but he acknowledged that he had received word that Federico Parada had just become available - almost exactly a year after leaving - with het sniper team asking S$5.5 million for the Bolivian star winger. "While it would be great to have Parada back on a personal basis, the team has moved on." Tian continued. "But in the future, who knows?"
Perhaps aware that he had dallied a little too long, Tian quickly announced the Birds' Player of the Year - which turned out to be
Mohd Marzuki Khairul, largely due to his memorable brace bringing Grilled Birds' first big trophy in nine long years.
Lim An Keng had been the favourite for his Golden Boot feat, with
Gandhik Chitre and
Chad Thach outside choices, despite what would be considered superlative seasons at most other clubs.
There would be no bad blood as Marzuki and Lim embraced before the former went up to receive the prize, as some whispered that Marzuki had been given the nod also due to not having won it before. Whatever the case, the youth version soon followed, and it would be another dark horse in 16 year-old defender Mick Abraham. Many thought it would be Raja Ameer Aswad, so dependable at the back too, but Abraham's unusual composure over the past month won it for him.
The atmosphere got heavier once the Buns took over, and it would be
Arun Ponnusamy to pick the senior gong up just two years after earning the youth one, thanks to his consistency - and a spate of Man of the Match recognition.
Gabriel Priebe,
Lim Guang Qiang and
Amaya Ravula were also in the mix, though as
Vishnu Tallapaka ruefully admitted, the bar was not very high this season.
As a consolation, the Buns had no shortage of contenders for the Youth Player award, as the Rabbits assembled what was perhaps their strongest-ever squad. Assistant coach Li Aik Meng noted that a good case could be made for perhaps half the trainees, and from this extremely strong field, the sustained excellence of Number Eight Huang An Jun stood out. Some like Mak Wee Fu and Tay Yi Ming had been hyped to have a higher ceiling but have yet to prove it, while others such as Bobby Harris and Goh Leng Wee had been outstanding, but just a little overaged.
Grilled International's obvious choice had to be Chua Jung Long yet again, but perhaps tired of the monotony, they would nominate
Snæbjörn Sigfússon for the accolade, with
Mohsen Zeynali and
Umut Koza earning honorary mentions. As for the young 'uns, Azad bin Izmadie would win it for his all-rounded talent, although the spotlight has been on 15 year-old tyro wingers Siddid Pandit and Hj Tarip bin Hj Gillen - the latter only having just officially joined up today.