Youth Bonanza
The outgoing transfers of Grilled's latest youth picks raked in the considerable gross sum of nearly S$1.6 million for the club, proving that a solid youth policy can be very profitable. 18 year-old Sim Liang Da, described by youth coaches as a forward who passes the ball around, netted S$256 000 for the team as a grand total of twelve teams enquired about him, spurred on by the low listing price of S$50 000. Local Division Four side Durian_picker, Los Draculitas (Argentina Div 7), *Paparians* (Greece Div 4), Stuttgarter VFB (Germany Div 6), Hägernäs Hills (Sweden Div 5), Big Flats Premier (USA Div 6) and Merseyside Red (Oceania Div 5) made tenative offers, while belachan (Malaysia Div 4), Cyrus The Virus (Norge Div 5), ROCK AND ROLL (Sweden Div 5), Zielone Pomidory (Poland Div 6) and Buckeyes (USA Div 5) tendered more substantive bids. Pomidory was close to securing Sim's services but Buckeyes landed the youngster. Sim, who practiced his passing with the first-teamers in the off-season, was absolutely flattered by all the attention. "I know I'm nowhere near the very best, so I never expected a dozen clubs to express interest."
The other youth player, defender Cheong Qiang Yeng, who turned professional the moment he became eligible at 17, was snapped up by Canadian Division Four team youngster_player for a whopping S$1.326 million. "He's the kind that is born for soccer," the academy's head coach said. "It's a pity to have to let him go, but Grilled don't train defenders. With proper training and some luck, there's the off chance that he could even get into the national U-20 squad." At least four other clubs certainly thought so, as Schlabbekigger of the German Division 6 made an approach while Division Six teams OprahsAreolas of the United States and Pumas del Erasmo of the Netherlands drafted solid offers. The real heartbreak must belong to Budapest-based Division Four side Óbudai Táltosok, who fought a running battle to bring Cheong to Hungary. The financial muscle of youngster_player won out in the end, and veteran defender
Lan Tuan-Mu reckons it will be seen if they have got a bargain even at the record price for a trainee. "That kid's the best defender to come out of here yet," Tuan-Mu affirmed. "Ong Tan was a hit in his time, but Cheong is already better than Ong ever was."
