Grilled resolved a S$124 000 bid with Taiwanese Division Three club Tzu Team for their young striker Zheng Lihai, who will thus become the first footballer from Taiwan employed by the Birds. Team Picchio (Italian Division Six) was the only other side to throw their hats into the ring.

A scout involved in the deal, who declined to be named, was of the opinion that Zheng was still very raw for an eighteen year old. "He's big and has a good work ethic, but there's nothing too special that I could see. At his age, however, effort can take him anywhere."

Indeed, tell that to former Grilled trainee Che Harun bin Sabtu, who moved to Italy for just S$30 000 some seasons ago, and then to Serbia and Germany for millions; few would have guessed that the 23 year-old would one day be the subject of a S$12 million bid, but that is exactly what VfB Hüls 1904 has put in, of which Grilled is entitled to at least a S$240 000 cut.

"Che Harun's done superbly for himself," Grilled coach Marcus Liehner praised. "Frankly, we didn't think he would come this far, but he's proven us all wrong. He was nice enough to ask if we would take him back, but as our finances stand, we can only afford one of his legs at the moment."

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