Grilled International went some way towards repairing the damage to their treasury from Li Xin Chi's recall, as they traded new hot young thing Nasrul bin Hj Kefli to French fifth divisioners FC Babre for S$648000. Nasrul had been touted by Busy Bees coaches as about Li's level if not better when he had left for FC Dantes, with the difference of being more... honest.

"Nasrul's not one for mind games or attempting to outskill opponents up close, unlike Li. With him, it's pass and go, run and receive, all day long." Bees scout Adinath Pant explained. "It's a different way to play, maybe less suited for the highlights, but no less useful for that. He'll be excellent on a team that's willing to use his main strengths."

There were no shortage of clubs eager to do that, with Slovenian Division Three leaders klokan000 and Argentine sixth division outfit KarssporBJK taking the initiative to approach the Bees, well before Nasrul was due to graduate. Local side Les Enfants Terribles 13 soon joined the fray, as did sektor (Bulgarian Division Five), Moyanos FC (Argentine Division Six), G.R.Escorpiões (Portuguese Division Six) and TKP PER (Polish Division Six).

It was ultimately Dutch IV.35 team Fc Bierpullen that most tempted the youngster alongside FC Babre, with the lure of training under the famous Rainier Joosten giving Nasrul much pause. In the end, however, Erhard Tönjes' pledge of a quick path into the regular rotation proved too much. "He said I might fill in the first eleven within the year - how could I turn that down?"

Be the first to comment