Ends And Beginnings
There was much relief about the Chicken Wings clubhouse today, after it was announced that the National Youth League would enter its 29th season, albeit in slightly reduced circumstances. While longtime members Team Remy83 Novices are sadly gone after the dissolution of their parent club, and Colombian guests Primines FC have opted not to renew their participation, the remaining six sides have hammered out an agreement to keep the flag flying.
"To be candid, we were
this close to seeking out a new league." head scout Tham Beng Li revealed. "However, with so much history at stake, we felt we had to give the administrators a additional day or two to resolve things. We're not overly satisfied at the reduced variety of opponents, but the friendlies should make up for it some."
Tham also took the opportunity to give a heads-up to the cream of the crop. "This generation's strongest on the wings. Chew Wee Tong is solid all around, while Neeraj Muthyala has the height to make up for it. And IKram - the first two letters are capitalized, by the way - now there's an unconventional forward. He deserves some watching."
It was a sad day for two youngsters, though, as Wings' Nabil Afiq and Rabbits' Khoo Xin Jie abandoned their footballing dreams. Afiq, a decent winger, had been assured by the youth coaches that he had a fair chance of getting a professional tryout, but weeks of inquiries have come up with nothing for the two-footed boy.
"It's unfortunate." Tham said. "I've passed his name on to many of my contacts, but somehow they're all not looking for his type at the moment."
It had been a far longer fruitless wait for Khoo, who is nearing his twentieth birthday. He had trained with the Bunnies' senior reserve squad for over a season since his graduation, and now regrets that he did not take up then-coach Vishnu Singh's suggestion for an apprentice contract.
"I had thought that I warranted a regular place somewhere, but evidently that's not the case." the fleet-footed Khoo sighed. "Now, it's too late. My parents are already nagging me for wasting a year on nothing, and it's time to take charge of my own life."
