Return Of The Ho
Farmer Bunnies boss
Vishnu Tallapaka unveiled a surprise - but extremely popular - buy right before Saturday's all-important relegation game against arseneRuLEz, in announcing the return of Rancher Rabbits legend
Ho Ah Kian. The forward's future career had been hotly anticipated when he came of age in the youth academy, and a sale to Geylang giants Joker 9 boded very well; he soon won III.6 with them, while also racking up ten appearances for the national youth side, in his five seasons there.
Singapore was too small to contain Ho's ambitions, however, and his next stop would be in Switzerland with Culés, who forked out some S$16.2 million for the ambitious striker. Commercially, it had to be accounted as a roaring success, and nine years saw him collect five league titles in helping Culés from Division Six to Three, and a Golden Boot in V.239. Most commentators regarded this as a solid if unspectacular stay... but his adventure was just beginning.
Now over thirty, Ho realized that if he was going to see more of the world, it had to be now, and a season in Turkey with Alaçatıspor followed, where he duly picked up a second Golden Boot in V.162, and a new league title. That wasn't enough, however, and he leapt at the offer of Zambia Super League club Zambia Warriors to improve their attack, whence he picked up the Zambia Sapphire Challenger Cup, just half a season after his arrival.
Zambia Warriors would go on to pick up the national league title, but Ho had since moved on for new challenges, and he would land in Ghana with II.4 side Akoben, with a mission to lift them into the Ghana Premier League. He would manage that too as Akoben won the league with a perfect record, finishing 13 points ahead of second-placed Tak určitě..., if mostly as a provider. This left Ho with the rare distinction of collecting two major African league-winner's medals, in the same season.
Ho's biggest test may lie in front of him, though, as he comes home to a Buns club adrift in the third division, with no lack of young defensive talent - but no apparent clear vision for progress. Still, sentiment was enough for Ho to pick Farmer Bunnies over initial interest by JJ Herranmetsä (Finnish Division Six), Vives Athletic (Spanish Division Five) and G&E&R&L (Israeli Division Four), with Croix-Rousse FC (French Division Four) and Martello Team (Italian Division Six) running up the bids. Real Galaxy 2011 (Spanish Division Five) then came in, but Belgian fourth division mainstays Groengeel were the Buns' main competition down the final stretch, as they pushed the transfer fee to a final total of some S$4.73 million.
Tallapaka regarded this as cheap at the price, however, as he welcomed Ho back to Carrot Field. "When I heard that he was available, I knew our attacking problems were resolved." the head coach enthused. "It's fully understandable if the fans have been a bit bored these few years, but rejoice - fun and style is returning!"
Ho certainly looked up for it as he accepted the long-vacant Number Eleven jersey, last worn by celebrated Greek forward Ermis Ftenopoulos. "Even when I was in Europe and Africa, I have never forgotten that there's some unfinished business in Singapore - and that's to get my old club back to the S-League!"
