Lo And Behold Mayur
Grilled did some nifty end-of-season business as they traded off two of their younger gems for a total of S$1.6 million. Recently-promoted teenager Lo Kok Long, who has been described as first a forward, second a midfielder and pretty dang good at both, went to Swiss Division Seven side FC Arsenal QR for S$294000, while
Mayur Gudivada's hard work has paid off with a S$1.32 million move to French Division Eight club rouzyteam.
Lo had attracted plenty of attention from Singapore and beyond, with early bids from local sides Heruko and RA Trevista Rangers, who had shown interest in Loo Tong Woon and Lin Aik before this, as soon as Lo's transfer request was officially announced.
They were soon outdone by the foreign set, though, as offers poured in from Dragon Gorzów (Polish Division Five), Hanauer-99 (German Division Nine), Nhà Quê (Vietnam Division Four), F.C. Cubanitos (Italian Division Ten), The Villaboys (Belgian Division Five), MILAN CF (Albanian Division Four), VVGZ Sneek (Dutch Division Five), GazZter (Dutch Division Seven), Faralley Rangers (Dutch Division Four) and PANKERAVNIAKOS (Greek Division Five).
Lo's eventual destination would be Switzerland, though, in a reversal of a trend that had seen Grilled icons like Dani Spirig, Lorenz Paullin and Jon Andrea Rottman ply their trade for the Birds. The stocky attacker was only too happy to be presented with his new Number 18 jersey, the same as of his idol, Paul Scholes. "Coach Timo Butzkamm is overseeing a renewal operation here, and regular spots will be up for grabs!"
Mayur Gudivada, who has been rumoured to have been awarded the Young Player of the Season award after a series of exceptional showings from all over midfield, left soon after Lo. Gudivada will break new ground as the first Asian, and indeed non-European, in an overwhelmingly-French squad, after impressing Argentine gaffer Nacho Naranjo Cortés.
Gudivada looked to have signed for Finnish Division Seven side KR City, only for Cortés to nick the former Dodogado stalwart out from under their noses. "The training can't be harder than learning French." the 21 year-old remarked. "Leaving my buddies here is a bit hard to take, but it's time for me to make a step up."
