Lau, Ablaev Bow Out
The Farmer Bunnies bid farewell to two of their longer-serving players today, as
Lau Chang Wan and
Nurlan Ablaev departed for one last adventure. Lau had spent twenty-and-a-half seasons at the club, which spanned his entire professional career after joining from the then-Kim Tae Hee FC's youth outfit, for just under a million - which was coincidentally what the Buns received from Belgian VI.969 team El Shoto Loco. Ablaev - with nearly nine seasons under his belt - had a number of offers after effectively being released, and wound up with French sixth divisioners B-Beat for a token sum.
It was a tough goodbye for the duo, especially Lau, who was slightly teary-eyed as he underwent his farewell interview. "I had always imagined that I would retire with the club, but the thought of playing abroad for a year or two was too much to pass up." he said. "Loco are a club with ambitions that have not lost their last eleven matches, and perhaps I can help them get promoted."
Lau has, of course, been capped 49 times at various levels during his Buns career, and he would effusively thank the club for its support. "There have been far more good times than bad, and I regret nothing."
Russian star forward
Nurlan Ablaev would record 61 goals from 149 appearances during his time here, and his undoubted class would draw bids from five clubs: Caffe Bar Pijor (Croatian Division Four), Sokovia C.F. (Myanmar Division Four), pol. Nicosia (Italian Division Eight), lootoon (English Division Five), and of course B-Beat. He admitted that his mobility had become a concern, but still hopes to strike up a good partnership with fellow freshly-signed veteran Shady Seif, as B-Beat's new Number Seventeen.
"I may not be what I once was, but there's goals in these boots yet." Ablaev promised. "All I need is the ball in the box."
