The Lion Wants Didi
Newly-installed head coach
Roar Olaisen didn't waste any time getting the personnel he wanted in, as he convinced the board to splash nearly S$3 million on experienced 31 year-old sweeper
Didi Reidenbach. The Swiss had spent the bulk of his career with Argentina's San Ciclón F.C. after leaving his native Zurich's Beton Hittnau, and his leadership and reliability was just what Olaisen wanted in an understudy.
"Long-term planning is important, and Didi will fill a considerable gap between myself and the squad." Olaisen declared. "Moreover, I'm hearing from the assistants that defence has been an area that could have stood to be improved for a long time."
Reidenbach should be an instant starter, given the failure of
Adam Killick to lock down a starting spot - and given his 38 years of age, the former Welsh international probably shouldn't be expected to. Like Killick and Soo, Reidenbach is known for his set-pieces, and he seems likely to succeed them as a regular in the International backline.
Certainly, the new Number Three was very attractive to many managers, with F.c. Campeões88 (Portuguese Division Six), Jugoslavija (Lithuanian Division Five), Jukkapalmu FC (Finnish Division Five), Weizengrill (Austrian Division Five) and Armana (Romanian Division Six) having officially registered their interest with San Ciclón.
In the end, however, Spanish sixth division side Leon United 1980 would be International's biggest contenders for his signature, alongside Hypos Hasardeure (Swiss Division Four) and De umettelige elleve (Norwegian Division Six). It was Olaisen's full support of Reidenbach's coaching ambitions that would convince him to come to Brunei, according to the man himself.
