A 38 year-old Cheong Jie Puay would return to where it all started, over 21 years after leaving Carrot Field - having played for six clubs and scored 141 goals, including twelve hat-tricks over that span. After short stays at Switzerland's FC Aeon Utd. and Argentina's NOBRosario, he would be signed by Canadian club Hammer of the Gods for some S$4.3 million, spending nearly eight seasons there; this saw him become fourth division champions twice, and also his first Golden Boot along with the second of those.

Cheong then went to New York's DelmarNY FC, but lasted barely half a year there before leaving for French side LeRetourDeLaChermination, where he claimed eight of his hat-tricks, and his other Golden Boot in Division Six. A couple more Italian sixth division winners' medals followed with U.S. Väsbý in six and a half seasons, before the Buns agreed to take him back on a free transfer, just like how he left.

For the new Number Eighteen, it will be a worthy end to a long career, which was in danger of never getting started after youth tryout rejections from CocoTeaTree kids and Rob Rangers. "It's nice to be home."

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