Zhan Bought By Nobbe
The second of Grilled's four local first-generation midfield trainees, hatchet man
Zhan Ju-Hau, was sold to Nobbe United in a S$10.8 million deal. His career spanned 72 competitive games and included fifteen goals, as he followed the team from obscurity in the Fourth Division to the dizzying heights of the S-League. The transfer came as no surprise to serious fans as Zhan had been transfer-listed for weeks, last appearing as a left winger in the 3-2 home win against Team Singapore in front of a full house.
Beset by form issues, Zhan had lost his first-team status to juniors
Asher Stanton and
Au-Yong Siu-Yue, and was understandably not fulfilled by a diet of friendly soccer. "The manager told me that it was unlikely for me to hold down a regular starting place, and after in-depth discussion we decided it would be best for both parties if we parted ways." Zhan revealed in his official press statement. "I have also always wanted to sample European soccer before I retired, but I hever thought it would be so soon."
Finding a buyer at a suitable price would have proved tricky in the deflated midfielder market, without Zhan's poor form adding to it. Finally Holland's Nobbe United were willing to break their transfer records in forking out Grilled's asking price for the midfielder, as they bid to go up to Division Three after four seasons hovering near the top of their league.
Zhan Ju-Hau in their green-and-white stripes could just be the missing catalyst.
The reaction of Grilled's supporters was surprisingly muted, given that Zhan was one of their favourites with his relentless playing style. "We're sad, no doubt, but he never featured much this season. Grilled have other positions which seriously need strengthening, and the money had to come from somewhere." The board had previously pledged that the income from Zhan's sale be earmarked for recruiting a top striker to link up with Martinsson and revive Grilled's spluttering strike force.
