Need For Nagata
Tian Yonghang announced the signing of 28 year-old Singaporean winger
Phillip Nagata from Dutch VI.812 leaders VVFristi for S$5.2 million to the former Eredivisie champions, where he had just spent slightly more than half a season after moving from Sweden's MuggsyBogues for about the same fee. Raised from the Laughing Kookaburras' youth academy when they were still known as Winnetou Reborn, Nagata had begun his career in Slovakia with 8.FC Košice, before soon leaving for Polish H.I. participants Gladiatorzy I Wrocław and Chile's chespaiders, and then MuggsyBogues at 21 years of age.
All that immersion in various football cultures had created an exquisitely well-balanced wide midfielder, or so Tian and his coaching staff assessed. "With
Brian Reddy not getting any younger, we have got to think of a replacement, and Nagata has what it takes." the head coach said. "In terms of pure skill with the ball, I daresay he's second to none in our squad - and I don't claim that lightly."
Reddy will keep the Number Seven that Nagata has preferred with his previous clubs, as the newcomer expressed a willingness to wait for it. "Reddy was one of the players I looked up to when I started out, especially for all he did for the national U-20 side. It will be a pleasure to work with him and the rest of the Birds."
Tian confirmed that his scouting team had been looking at a number of options to beef up the squad, including Liechtenstein defender Harry Näscher, Estonian Northern Irish double winner Hannes Ergma, former South African international Gus Hutchison, and Maltese legend Carlton Callus; in the end, Nagata's profile won out. "The language and culture issues have been bigger than you may think. With Phillip, we are getting somebody who should have no issues fitting in from the first day."
