Grilled International broke with convention by fielding a full team of Busy Bees academy graduates against Cuban Division Three leaders Päkyn Varadero, yesterday night. Not unexpectedly, they were outclassed 0-5, but head coach Roar Olaisen saw it as well worth the trip.

"It's important to maintain the link between the first team and the youth side, and given how we had so many of the lads still involved, the coaches thought, why not?" Olaisen said. "The boys can now all say that they are senior footballers in fact, and in all honesty, quite a few of them may have what it takes to continue on."

Chief among these may be midfielder Hardi bin Hj Azman, who while perhaps no Hardi bin Besar, gave a decent impersonation of the rising International star at times. Hj Redhuan bin Hj Said also exhibited a similar style, while Lamat bin Hj Ahmad suggested that he could be a useful attacking fullback for the right club.

As for the Chicken Wings, they got off on a winning note in their new youth league, with Ong Tong Kim, Soo Leong Min and Au Lee Tian all scoring in a 3-0 shutout of menokfc. Despite this, they are only seventh in the sixteen-team league, due to the other winners having racked up the goals.

"There seems a clear gap between some of the teams." fitness coach Mark Lim observed. "Not unusual at this level. There will be plenty enough good opponents to give the kids a challenge, no worries on that end."

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