Chua Celebrates
Chua Meng Li got his best present ever on his eighteenth birthday, as he landed a move to Italy, where he will join up with Division Ten representatives tuttirossi in a S$50000 deal. tuttirossi have already bought twelve other players in the month since their inception, with French defensive midfield veteran Emmanuel Vasseur arriving on the same day on a free.
The towering wingback had looked destined to stay in Singapore, as rising Division Four clubs Felix Power XI and Team FA 2011 put in their enquiries early. This all changed when Kings of Buzau (Romanian Division Seven) tendered an offer, though, and it became a straight battle between them and tuttirossi after that.
Chua might so easily not have made it, however, as he very nearly gave the sport up after being cut at trials by Crimson Marauders, U-20 side of former II.2 rivals Edbe FC. His future dangled by a thread after a poor showing in the technical portion of the Chicken Wings' introductory session, but senior Grilled youth scout Tham Beng Li saw potential in the 1.88m tall teenager, and asked him to return.
This time, he proved his worth at the back, and somewhat surprisingly packed a fairly consistent cross on his right foot, which got him 23 starts for the Wings, and now, a flight to Europe.
