Phoenix Claim
Tampines Phoenix F.C., having last bought Ken Mukai and Kwek Lai Tse from the Birds about two seasons ago, came in for 17 year-old defensive midfielder Lim Chang Ze today. This ended Lim's month-long search for a new club, one that his scout Tham Beng Li thought rather too long for a trainee of his calibre.
"Chang Ze is more or less a prototypical clean-up guy." Tham assessed. "You could hardly design a better stopper from scratch - he fits the mould from physique to mentality."
Lim is hoping to follow Kwek's trajectory at Tampines, with the fullback developing steadily in his half a year there. Kwek then won another move to Estonian former Safiirkarikas holders JK Wallah, where he is now a regular starter. As it is, he will be hoping to get some cup minutes at a minimum, with Division Three hardly a walk in the park.
There would also be changes on the staff end, with longtime form coach Alex Lee retiring to spend more time with his family - including Earl Lee, who narrowly missed the cut at the Chicken Wings. The management has hired financial director Lu Leng Seng, previously a junior director with Ernst & Young, in his stead. "We need to get our books in order - not saying they weren't - for our next push forward." club secretary Mohd Hamzah Minhat noted.