33 year-old winger Ma Dai-Lin has finally closed the curtain on an illustrious Grilled career, in which he made 128 appearances, scored 16 times and won four league titles. Ma was one of only two members of the original squad who remained in Grilled's first team all the way from Division Four to the S-League, and probably the most influential among non-captains.

A firm fan favourite, Ma Dai-Lin blended exceptional ball-handling with strong flank running, and gave his younger brethen many useful tips. He readily admits that his best days are probably behind him, however, and was not unhappy to serve out the remainder of his career in the cradle of Hattrick soccer - Sweden.

Swedish Division Three side AC Snygg were ready to meet Grilled's demands of S$3 million, pleasing Dai-Lin that such a premier side would want him. "I fully expected to go to a lesser club, but AC Snygg cannot be said to be a step down, considering my age. I think I have at least two full seasons in my legs, barring injury."

Fan opinion was generally positive, with most recognizing that it was a good deal. "Ma was a great one in his heyday, but he's over the hill and can't possibly win his starting postion back. If we had held on to him until the end of the season, we would likely not even get three million, which is a goodly sum." supporter Aziz Hiduan felt.

There has been debate whether to retire Ma's number eight jersey, but on this the man himself had a word to say. "The number has been lucky for me," he smiled. "It may rub off on another player too. Just make sure it's a special one."

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