Filling The Ranks
Niculae Stanca didn't bask in the warm afterglow of the Cup semifinal win, as he soon got back to the office, where he presided over the purchase of squad players
Nicola Vandeneynde, 31, and
Joan Cisquell, 34. This was touted to give Grilled extra options in midfield and defence, and with Stanca making it no secret that nearly all of the Birds' regulars will be rested against Young Tigers, the duo could find themselves pressed into action as early as Sunday.
Belgian midfielder Vandeneynde was signed from French Division Six side Phoceens 38 for S$632 000, where he had spent the bulk of his career, while centreback Cisquell cost S$200 000 from Romanian Division Six club CF United GL, having once been the subject of a near S$6 million cross-European move from Schwändi United to Fossa Dei Leoni.
There were counterbids from Geyve Spor (Turkish Division Six) and FC Red Bull Swiss 2013 (Swiss Division Eight) for Vandeneynde, with earlier confirmed offers from Buffon United (Irish Division Five), Club Atlético Municipal. (Colombian Division Five), Virgen de Guadalupe (Argentine Division Six), McIrons crew (Italian Division Nine) and likor cafe f.c. (Spanish Division Eight), but the lure of Grilled proved hard to resist.
"Nicola and Joan have signed short-term contracts lasting until the end of the season, and will be valuable reserves who will fill in whenever needed." Stanca declared. "While there have been reports that we are interested in former Bird lu Zunwen, I must say that this trade would make no sense for us."
Stanca took the opportunity to display a letter of congratulations from Seytek Djekshenkulov, who spent six seasons at Grilled before moving back to Europe, and who has just received his second cap for the Kyrgyzstani national team. "It's always nice to hear that our former players are doing well."
