Code Yellow
With the home stretch looming,
Djan Bacelar bolstered the squad with the S$1.2 million signing of 27 year-old Vietnamese defender
Hoàng Trung Quá from Czech Fifth Division side FK Vidláci. Capable of filling central roles from sweeper up to central mid, Hoàng is most comfortable pushing up as a defensive midfielder, and this similarity with the unorthodox back two that the Birds play, made him a catch for Bacelar.
"This is more a buy for the medium term." the head coach said. "With many of our core men entering their mid-thirties, including both
Ling Fuquan and
Gene Filippone, we definitely need to ease in new blood. Hoàng will bridge the chasm between our veterans and the bright new stars coming out of the academy, and I can see him becoming a regular starter here after a couple seasons' rotation."
Upon being pressed, Bacelar acknowledged that
Yuki Irie's stellar midfield performances had contributed to the signing. "Yuki was originally tapped to be in the backline, but it's hard not to keep in the middle now. Hoàng of course can slot in there too, but we view him as a defensive option first and foremost. We had entered negotiations with Bastian Jaberg and Neco Toller, among others, but Hoàng was our best fit."
Hoàng, who adopted the vacant Number Two shirt, was seriously considering a move back home with Vietnamese Third Division club PAEDIATRICS, but decided to extend his overseas stay instead. "I've heard quite a bit about Singapore, and although PAEDIATRICS made a very good offer, I think I can wait before returning."
Incidentally, Hoàng claimed to remember hearing of the Birds during his youth, after his first club FC BaDon United narrowly lost an away friendly to a Grilled lineup that included the likes of Quah Han Kok and Maikel Rotteveel. "My family was football-mad!" he grinned. "Sadly, BaDon has wound up recently. Maybe they will revive one day."
