Dutch Goings
The Birds saw the end of their latest Dutch connection, as defender
Mateja Jeftić followed Kalle ter Berg out, as he signed with Swedish IV.231 club Funny Kicker. Soon to be 36, the centreback nevertheless felt that he still had much to contribute, but far less than he would be able to with the arrival of
Douglas Carapaica relegating him to at best third in the pecking order, behind both Douglas and
Sølve Lunde.
Russia's FC Oilers had also indicated a solid interest in Jeftić, who however settled on the Kickers after being convinced by Iranian head coach Rahman Davachi's plans for the club, largely funded by their recent S$20 million sale of Polish rising star Kazimierz Dulat. The Oilers, then, had to settle for Singapore Big Dogs' departing Sorin Ciugudean.
Jeftić leaves with three national titles, a Challenger Cup and ten goals from 57 appearances in his some three-and-a-half seasons at the Birds. There have been online musings over whether this contribution had been worth the nearly seven million net that Grilled laid out, but to often-partner
Gilbert Webb, this was hardly a question.
"Of course it was." the Scotsman said. "That was for about a third of the defence. Mateja's very reliable, very clean, and there were few better in the last man role in his time here."
