New Leases Of Life
Tian Yonghang completed the bulk of his scheduled clearouts, by shifting both
Gandhik Chitre and
Brian Reddy on the same day. The 28 year-old Chitre went to Swiss IV.24 club FC Alcatraz for a round eight million dollars, while 35 year-old former youth international winger Reddy was picked up by Polish VI.293 side FC WPIENI, for just S$750000.
The farewell press conference was bittersweet for Tian and his fellow Wings alumni, both of whom dabbed at their eyes through the event. "I know I pressed for this myself, but now that it's happened... there's a bit of me that doesn't want to leave." Chitre, until today the Grilled Number Nine, admitted. "But if I was ever going to experience football at a high level outside Singapore, it had to be now."
Switzerland was a quite acceptable destination for Chitre at least, who professed his belief in French gaffer Achille Salvat's quest to get the club back to the third division, despite their recent divestment of highly-rated Puetro Rican goalkeeping talent José Martínez. "Their 3-5-2 isn't too different from what we do at the Birds, and they have some top players such as Giorgio Selders. It's good to reinvent oneself sometimes."
Brian Reddy for his part had fewer expectations about his transfer, which will take him back to Europe after his previous stint in England. "It's a good place to enjoy some soccer." he noted. "Niejadlik has assembled a more... mature squad, so it should be an easy fit."
Reddy also acknowledged that he had been removed from the official prospect list of the national side, together with Farmer Bunnies'
Lim Su Liang and
Wee Liang Teck. "I didn't even know I was on it." he confessed. "But I guess that senior cap's not coming anytime soon."
Over in Brunei, 17 year-old Grilled International trainee Mohd Sahan bin Hj Sufri secured a free transfer to Spanish VIII.1003 leaders fctorrenostra, as part of their initial recruitment drive. The fullback will have plenty of competition to lock down a regular spot, but for now, he is quite content with modelling their sharp all-red kit.
