Mass Retirements
With the off-season officially here, the Grilled clubs would waste no time in preparing for the next one - starting with layoffs. With their standard apprentice contracts coming to an end, the Birds would let seven former academy players go, namely Lai Yeng Wei, Leong Choon Soon, Drew Kim, Matt Yoshimura, RM Kumar, Jace Nakamura and Fang Lai Yeng. Likewise for Farmer Bunnies, five youngsters were released: Lau Tong Boon, Yang Eng Jing, Goh Leng Wee, Aiman Rusyaidi Hassan and Teow Hui Han.
"It was just unfortunate - many of them were good players." Buns playmaker
Dušan Václavík observed. "It's just that the job market for professionals is crazily competitive these days."
Grilled International would see the biggest exodus of all, beginning with 42 year-old loyal servants
Safari bin Hj Jali and
Sazwan bin Hj Muhd Salleh, who were inducted into the club's Hall of Fame together after being laid low by chronic injuries.
Osertz Indurain,
Arcadi Sansalvador and
Collin Kleden would also announce their retirements, with all having about hit the big four-oh - if with Sazwan and Kleden retaining an affiliation with a view to possible coaching duties.
Nine juniors would also be cut, chief amongst them 24 year-old academy graduate defender Hj Mustaqin bin Hj Raziman, who finally gave up on sticking about in an unofficial capacity to try and win a squad number. Joining him would be Saiful bin Hj Azman, Mohd Fazren bin Cucu, Rahimni bin Jamal, Amri Wijaya, Yeo Kian Wai, Rajid bin Hj Bob, Tamit bin Kitang and Zulazri bin Husain, all of whom had started out with such high hopes.
"It was but a dream after all." Hj Mustaqin sighed.
On the Buns' end, 44 year-old Croatian reserve playmaker
Miran Raulj will leave after the end of his rolling contract, with
Manuel Vadalà,
Bhavya Panigrahi and
Bilal Mohammad Harun calling it quits for the Birds. The 45 year-old Bilal would like Safari and Sazwan be honoured immediately, but he nonetheless confessed that he would miss the lifestyle. "I think I'll just kick around for a bit and figure out what to do."
