Amidst all the doom and gloom at Burung, they did not skimp on their recruitment of new blood, as they splashed close to five million on a couple of 17 year-olds. The bulk of that, S$4.4 million, went to Israeli Division Four team ProdigyTeam for their Curaçao trainee Remond Bergervoet. This was a huge jump over the S$620,000 that Bergervoet had fetched for hometown club Barber-echos & Vermuth half a season ago, but this was just reward for the huge improvements he had made since then.

A few short months would be enough to convince the international scouts that ProdigyTeam had unearthed a special talent, and while mostly deployed on the right wing by them, Bergervoet exhibited an exceptional affinity at central midfield too, matched by well above-average legs and stamina. "The fee's somewhat over the odds, but Remond is worth it." head coach Didi Reidenbach reported. "He's close to one of a kind."

Dutchman Egidius van der Duin was cheap in contrast at S$334,000 from fifth division side Hart 2 Beat, with German VI.406 promotees AS Eumelborough putting up a stiff contest. Egidius had also been pursued by twice Macedonian Challenger Cup winners Falanga and Polish fifth divisioners FCKajtekMaster among others, which could well be understood given his unimpeachable fundamentals.

There could even have been a third signing, as Reidenbach had eyes out for Vietnamese club TKN's release of Belgian Charles-Ferdinand Van Moer, but the S$3 million offered by V.44 champs Les Fiers de Hache towards a return home was too much for Reidenbach to top. "We're not in that much of a hurry." he continued. "Tomorrow is another day."

As it is, both Bergervoet and Van der Duin will claim the single-digit jerseys of seven and five respectively, both of which had been vacated for some eight years. Observers remarked that this represented the trust placed in the duo, and a clean break from the past.

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