Aw Yes!
Grilled took some additional sting off their league disaster, by going full steam ahead on their rebuild - which has seem them recruit 20 year-old
Aw Keng Chuan to the squad, from former Spanish Primera club and Copa Esmeralda winners campeolones. The S$7.35 million deal saw Aw return to Singapore after just over three seasons and a Division Seven title with campeolones, that had their Costa Rican head coach Frank Grant turn around and reinvest S$10.2 million in Peruvian goalkeeper Antonio Pillaca, before the ink was dry.
Tian Yonghang would care only about his first official signing today, though, his input having been sought for
Chad Thach and
Lau Chu Soon notwithstanding; another local side in III.1's Brighton UK had been after Aw for some time, and seemed favourites to sign him ahead of Polish Division Five club Szalke, and Dutch Division Four competitors Schiere Zaakjes. They would however elect not to contest the Birds' offer, once that came in.
Observers would recognize in Aw a talent very much in the same mould as Lau, if with some important distinctions. "There's a reason why he cost over twice as much." veteran pundit Gopal Sathasivam said. "Aw is widely seen as more complete, especially as a defensive midfielder, a proven striker of the ball, and frankly has accomplished more. Lau's main advantage would be his willingness to coordinate and communicate on the pitch, something that has been missing from Aw's game thus far, perhaps due to how campeolones were set up."
Tian does not see anything preventing Aw from developing in those respects, as he entrusted the new signing with the just-departed Sølve Lunde's Number Four shirt. "Keng Chuan has the brains and the skills - nothing's stopping him from shining with us. That's another one originally from RFC then, I suppose Rob Rangers have recruited well."
The new Grilled gaffer added that this should conclude the club's ventures into the transfer market for now. "We do have a few lads scheduled to come through the academy very soon, thus the whole timing. You all will see very soon!"
