Grilled replenished their ranks by bringing in 33 year-old Peruvian box-to-box midfielder Rosendo Chinchay on a season-long contract. Chinchay arrived on a budget S$200 000 transfer from Spanish Division Seven side Santa Amalia CF, and was an unused substitute in his final match for the club, against idespac.

"Having played in Argentina, Belgium and Chile, it has to be said that Chinchay knows the ABCs of football inside out." Grilled coach Han Lik-Tsun couldn't resist quipping. "This is a low-risk bargain that will give us valuable options in midfield and defence, especially with Vukota out."

Market watchers were not as impressed, pointing out that Grilled had been rebuffed when they went after journeymen like Argentine Alberto Vidal, Uruguayan Robertino Perez del Castillo and Romanians Pele Andrei and Marin Ardelean, among others. "At the moment, Grilled's ambitions are unclear." one analyst remarked. "They are puttering along alright, but at this rate, it's going to be a long and hard trip back to the top, if ever."

Han urged fans to be realistic, even as he admitted that Tele Fone FC's former U-20 midfielder Hairuddin bin Mohd Zain had slipped between his fingers, eventually landing a S$6.7 million move to Batavia Cavaliers. "We do have funds, but have to be financially prudent even in the face of such talent." he explained.

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