Phoenixes Welcome Kalki
36 year-old
Kalki Parvathaneni would finally leave his boyhood club in the twilight of his career, as he departed for premier Pasir Ris club Tampines Phoenix F.C., for S$1.5 million. The Phoenixes are very much on the up too, having compiled nineteen games without defeat, while picking up the Ruby Challenger Cup. If they win their final league match against BuddyBoys as expected, a return to the S-League might even be on the cards for Kalki.
This, in
Tian Yonghang's mind, was no less than what Grilled's loyal Number Ten deserved. "He's been an incredible part of this golden generation, won all there was to win domestically, and handled any role entrusted to him. Make no mistake, he was our top winger for long stretches, despite only being asked to take that position on with any regularity, when he was already in his thirties. With any luck, he can be a Wu Jinglong for Tampines."
It was definitely not an easy decision for Kalki to take, still. "I had wrestled over it for many nights." he said, choking up a little. "Everyone at the club supported whatever I chose, but still."
Two Grilled International youngsters would move about the same time, with 18 year-old centre forward Hussein bin Hj Vincent Nordin picked up by Spanish seventh divisioners Furia Española CF for S$124000, after a running battle with Portuguese Division Six side Clube Português, and a single offer from Swedish Division Five club 1930. The big man had caught some eyes with a nice hat-trick in Quebec against les décrotteurs JR, and should be a legitimate threat with some polishing.
Seventeen year-old Mohd Marzuki Minhat would be approached by Polish VII.961 outfit The Plumbers, who made him their first-ever signing, right before Finnish youngster Niko Attenberg. An all-round attacker, Marzuki has not settled on his best role yet, and is reportedly willing to work with new boss Gaweł Jagieła on how he could be best deployed.