Hattrick Masters
More cause for celebration for the Birds, as they will now own a small slice of global Hattrick history.
While ideas for a worldwide Champions League have been floated about for ages, it still came as a surprise when the Hattrick administration announced that it would in fact be implemented, under the name Hattrick Masters, next season.
The reason why it is especially significant for Grilled, is of course the fact that they will be one of the roughly 200 teams (out of over seven hundred thousand existing) participating in the first edition, representing Singapore as the national Cup winners, together with S-League winner ChAmPzz.
Die-hard supporters were all in a buzz after the bombshell was dropped. "We won the Cup at just the right time," an unidentified fan gushed. "Imagine, up with the real giants of the world game!"
"Will we, heavens forbid, draw Sweden's immortal Inter Sthlm in the first round? Or Spain's Tamariz, or England's double winner Durham City FC, or Germany's FC Teerlunge?" Eight-season supporter Yang Tong Cong asked, seated in front of one of the clubhouse's Internet terminals.
"Maybe domestic unbeatables like Japan's dominating 14-season double winners Shirayuri Sky, or Venezuela's beltxis, who went 141 matches undefeated? Perhaps someone we've played before, like Jamaica Tigers, or someone we'll play, like Kenya's wanafunzi? An ASEAN showdown with Ipoh United, Magnificent Seven or Dinamo Nakhonping, or due to some incredible twist of fate, even ChAmPzz?"
"It's likely to be none of these teams, but whatever happens, eight weeks later, we'll be one of that vanishingly small number of clubs to concurrently play an official international competitive club match. No club will have done that before us. Win or lose, it'll be a proud day for Grilled."
