Atang Recruited
Hilal Bakhtiar would not rest on his laurels after sewing up the title, as he introduced Botswanan defender
Atang Mangoye to the press corps today. The 30 year-old commanded a S$408,000 fee from Israeli V.69 club orireut, and will juggle a reserve role, together with a study programme towards earning his coaching badges, under the club's direction.
Mangoye's upbeat personality and remarkable leadership skills had brought him much interest ever since he left his now-defunct hometown club Yogur de limon S.D. some four years ago, for then-Italian eighth division side Calcio Lerici. Demonstrating an uncanny knack for languages, Mangoye would be observed doling out instructions in Italian, Hebrew, and occasional smatterings of whatever his teammates spoke. Most often deployed as a central midfielder at orireut despite being presented the Number Four jersey as a fullback, Mangoye would somehow manage to leave whilst holding the Number Ten shirt.
While perhaps at his limit as a player, Mangoye's organizational potential was not missed by international scouts, with Californian former Major League club The Black Storks Revival FC having reportedly made an early approach. Though nothing came of that, there would be official bids from İstanbul Spiders (Turkish Division Five), FC Cloud Connected (Maltese Division Four) and hapoel sheli (Israeli Division Six), as his contract ran down.
The most serious offers would come from central Europe, as Mangoye appeared headed to one of German VI.318 runaway winners Ballzauber, and Austrian H.I. V.62 challengers Pirates Laxenburg. Of course, Grilled Birds had their own pull as repeat S-League winners, and Mangoye would angle hard for the move, once Bakhtiar entered the fray.
"Honestly, I have never encountered such a charmer." the normally-stern Bakhtiar smiled. "Five minutes with him, and you'd feel like best buddies. All we need to know now is how good he is with theory and the ball at his feet, because he definitely won't be having any trouble fitting in!"
