Jeftić Joins Up
Eren Serpin really wasn't joking about going for broke for the S-League title too, as he recruited Dutch Division Two side FC Korsakov's
Mateja Jeftić, a day after winning the cup final. A 32 year-old sweeper-defender at the peak of his powers, Jeftić's contribution to FC Korsakov cannot be overstated, as he helped them to four straight promotions - from the sixth division to the second - on his arrival from Canadian giants Murray Harbour Bruins.
Before the Bruins, Jeftić had spent three seasons in his native Netherlands with FC Bollejongens, following a short stint at former Belgian Ruby Challenger Cup winners, De lèleke Duvels, and half a month with Romania's Ghetarii, this a couple of years after turning professional from Daim's youth academy, the Daimpjes. Grilled will therefore be his seventh club in a productive career, for a sum approaching S$8 million.
While Grilled already have
Gilbert Webb,
Bhavya Panigrahi and
Yuta Nakakita competing for two central defensive spots, with
Kalle ter Berg and
Salah Kamel more than capable of filling in - as for even a cup final - Serpin was adamant that this was hardly excessive. "Yuta's 37, to start with, fit as he keeps himself, and Ter Berg and Kamel are better elsewhere. I had to agonize over picking Ter Berg in defence yesterday, this I can admit. The fault had it not worked out would have been mine, because he's not a natural defender; we agreed as much when he was signed."
Indeed, leaking five goals against an admittedly stellar Bot Team FC, a couple of them probably mostly attributable to the Dutchman under less-than-desirable circumstances, would seem to support Serpin's view. As it is, Grilled's new Number Twelve will join a host of talent, in trying to earn a spot in the starting XI. "He's a top professional." Serpin added, almost as an afterthought. "Another reason why we turned to him."
With the stress of the Singapore Cup finals now over, Serpin was also more willing to divulge information on the Birds' transfer targets. "We're always on the lookout for players that can improve our squad, and were tracking Cihangir Eryüzlü and David Pinto from Armenian champions Ararat, for some time. The asking price was too high, however. Die Pangalaktischen Statistiker's Tarık Resul was also an option, and we actually made an official offer for Ararat's Dominik Bryza, but he went to Blanc-Rouge for S$9 million instead."
On a query as to whether he had considered FC Barca Singapore's Manuel Giammarinaro, reportedly available as the Ang Mo Kio icons undergo a squad reshuffle, Serpin demurred. "There's no doubt he's an incredible asset in his own right. But I can't say that we had seriously expected that option to present itself."
