Mere days after watching Wai Wah slip away, Grilled were blessed with their own 17 year-old genius. Four seasons ago the Youth Wings academy received U-20 speedster Quah Han Kok, two seasons ago it was Lee Jie Siong's turn. Now, younger than either Quah or Lee had been when they signed apprentice's contracts, comes Bukhari - who may, some say, be the best of them all.

Certainly he has an eye for midfield organization that even Quah lacked when he first arrived. At his trial, Grilled's coaches quickly saw that he had the helicopter view of the game that only veterans acquire. "Even when he's harassed by a couple of opponents, he keeps his head up and invariably picks the best play. Most men have to be taught to do that, but he does it instinctively." was one typical comment.

An all-rounder possessing neither strong offensive or defensive tendencies, Bukhari was quickly signed to a S$1360 per week agreement that will see the Combined Schools player at Grilled at least until he is twenty. "He's as close to a sure thing as they come. His value on the open market would be near S$3 million, but there's no way we're letting him go at any price." assistant coach Lan Tuan-Mu asserted.

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