The Reshuffling Begins
Farmer Bunnies might have been dropped to the third division again, but under-pressure head coach
Dalibor Kostadinović was not about to mope about indefinitely. He wasted no time in preparing for the new season, by buying 27 year-old Kazakh striker
Vitaliy Efendiev from Bulgarian III.4 club Chelsea FC 21, for S$1.16 million.
This was slightly above what Chelsea had paid for Efendiev from Swedish Division Five side freppas krigare just a month ago, where he had spent his last nine seasons, and picked up most of his 114 career goals. Before that, he had been with Danish former Safirturneringen winners The Couchsurfers, whom he had joined on a free from boyhood club FC Kentau. French Division Six club Walah FC and Turkish Division Five side Phoenix_Muhendislik provided most of the Buns' competition, as Efendiev quickly ruled out a return to Sweden with DegerforsIF.
Efendiev will adopt the Number Nine shirt at the Buns, as Kostadinović dismissed talk that he had come off failure in Bulgaria. "True, he might have started just a single match for Chelsea, but note that although they lost 1-3, he did score from a corner. That's hardly the sign of a forward on the decline, and from my point of view, all he needs is more match fitness, and to get to know his new mates."
With the Bunnies' main forwards all at least 36 years of age, Efendiev must fancy his chances of starting often, as he thanked countryman and former Buns star Liderhan Kadyr, for putting in a good word for him. "It's a honour to get a recommendation from Liderhan." he declared. "I will do my best to serve my new club."
Kostadinović hinted that this move would likely presage a number of transfers out, as several of the Buns' oldest players made a concrete gesture towards the changing of the guard, by giving up their long-held jersey numbers. Tham, Wong and Kwek gave up their treasured 2, 4 and 6 respectively, to Zaripbekov, Agyei and Tambusai - who will proudly wear these numbers in the post-season tournaments.
Tham, who has moved to 42 with his original 32 still held by
Lau Chang Wan, wished the new generation the best. "It's their defence to hold now. And, seeing as all of them are former internationals, it is hard to claim that the Buns will be down and out for long!"