Noubaryan Shocker
There were two league trophies standing guard over this season's concluding ceremony, gladly contributed by Grilled Birds and Grilled International, as they crowded the Birds' clubhouse. The greatest shock of all would arrive beforehand, though, as the 59 year-old Birds head coach
Hovaness Noubaryan declared - almost off-handedly - that he would be relinquishing his position, after eight seasons at the helm.
"I think my job is mostly done." Noubaryan said, "We promoted from the third division in my second season, and since then, we have captured two Challenger Cups, won two Division Two titles, and reached the S-League - again, in this case. It's high time for somebody else to take the squad further, I think I have left it in good shape, and Serpin's the man."
Now, there had been no doubt that the Austrian Serpin had been Noubaryan's understudy for the past four years, but the low profile he had successfully cultivated had led many to suppose that he would be waiting in the wings for somewhat longer, or maybe even springing for an outside job. Not many of the Birds players were particularly taken aback when told, that said; still, Serpin will have his work cut out for him, as he gets thrown straight into the S-League cauldron.
That done with, the prestigious Grilled Birds Player of the Season award went to
Vikram Mudaliar, and most agreed that it had to be either the Indian former international, or
Bernie Egan. Both
Chan Ze Han and
Cyril Künzler had enjoyed outstanding days too, but there was no looking past the former two. The youth version went to Tay Kang Kok, a million-dollar coup for ambitious Serangoon risers, EF City. Tay has been tried out in midfield and on the wing, but Norbert Maresch's intent now seems to be developing him at rightback.
The Farmer Bunnies pick was somewhat more muddied, not helped by a difficult and ultimately disappointing season, but Russian Number Eight
Nurlan Ablaev got the nod ahead of a bunch of possibles. The -= Manchester United =- man had kept his nose clean and his legs moving, and his unexecptional goal return - that said, just two off the club's top scorers for the season - belied his many less-quantifiable contributions. On the youth front, forward Phua Qiang Wen was the obvious pick, though he was unfortunately not able to attend, having flown to be with his new club in Lithuania.
There were absolutely no surprises when it came to Grilled International's turn, as the squad began chanting
Wang Hanxuan's name, once it came to their turn. And, indeed, a league Golden Boot and 17 goals in 18 starts was but an introduction to what he had done for them. Even the famously self-promoting
Fausto Perono looked genuinely agreeable with the choice, as Wang was hoisted onto the stage by a pack of his mates. For the junior award, the much-ballyhooed
Chua Jun Long had endured a slow start to his senior career, and it was thus given instead to centreback Hj Helmi bin Hj Mohd Altermizi, who has been appearing regularly for Belgian Division Six side FC Matémon.
A few jersey reassignments involving
Bhavya Panigrahi and
Kalki Parvathaneni were also declared, with Panigrahi inheriting the retiring
Hoàng Trung Quá's Number Two shirt. Reserve goalies
Krystian Rykowski and
Dan Seng, both 43 years of age, said their goodbyes too, along with Italian utility man
Pompeo Bellamoli. Farmer Bunnies had
Chai Mohilever retiring after his contract was not renewed, while a number of International veterans likewise declared their departure: former head coach and longtime advisor
Tajit bin Mohd to head a catering business, and
Mohd Kamarul bin Hj Safari,
Soo Kiong Yau and
Sahari Jainal to various other occupations.
43 year-old former Welsh international
Adam Killick would be inducted as International's first Hall of Fame member, after sustaining one thigh injury too many, but he made no secret that he would still be on the pitch if he could; in any case, he should be accepting a coaching role with the club. Grilled Birds for their part confirmed the double induction of legends Valdir Dias Paes and Hidde van Liere, both of whom had spent over ten seasons with the Birds, and in van Liere's case, also helped them to back-to-back Singapore Cups.
"I really have no idea how Hidde had been passed over for so long."
Tian Yonghang said of the Dutchman, who has similarly been honoured by the Netherlands' Ad Maiorem Mei Gloriam, where he finished his career. "And as for Valdir, I had the pleasure of being in the same squad as him for a couple of years. Don't think I got too many goals past him during practice!"
