A Bit Of Spring
Grilled Birds might have eliminated Sentoza Springboks to get to the Emerald Challenger Cup final, but the Springboks will possibly not be entirely unrepresented at the event, as
Tian Yonghang brought in their former academy trainee
Hisham Zubari for a round S$8 million.
Now 29 years of age, Zubari had been a top performer with Jong Bokke, and his initial transfer to Italy's Fùtbol Club de PUR made local headlines due to the hefty S$7.8 million fee for a seventeen year-old - which still stands as their academy record by some distance. He mostly lived up to expectations with PUR, winning two Division Eight titles and debuting for the national U-20 team in a 1-1 away friendly draw against Cambodia.
There would be a season in Romania with Cealadaii Estului after turning twenty-two, before two-and-a-half years back in Singapore as Arcturules laid out S$10.6 million to bring him home. This got Zubari two III.16 winner' medals, and probably more memorably, an Emerald Challenger Cup in Season 74 five years ago, as part of a strong Arcturules XI that swept Moeinsingapore 4-0, alongside new teammate
Genki Nagano.
Zubari's wage demands would have Arcturules seek to offload him, though, and they found a willing taker in high-reaching Croatian Division Four club NK Turbina, who were after a star central midfielder to take them to the next level. This Zubari contributed to as he helped NK Turbina to a IV.27 title and promotion in his second full season, but his salary demands again became a sticking point with the club management.
This was where the Birds came in, and
Tian Yonghang would get the deal done, with Zubari agreeing to a small cut as part of the negotiations. "Hisham knows we have a wage structure, so it was give-and-take." Tian smiled. "We truly believe that he's one of the final pieces we need to have a team that can take on the best in Singapore, and Hisham likes winning too."
"Oh, and
Genki Nagano put in a good word for us too." the head coach continued. "We do treasure the Arcturules connection that has been sort of inadvertently built up, over the years. They do develop some of the greatest local defenders available, so it was only natural."
Zubari would select the Number 22 jersey, perhaps a nod to Genki's Number Two, but was otherwise unavailable for comment as his agents attempt to get the transfer finalized in time for Grilled's league match against Controlar. The club spokesman confirmed that it would be tight, with Zubari's plane scheduled to touch down just two hours before kick-off.
