Darshana Decides
A day after splashing out eight figures for
Phua Li Kong,
Didi Reidenbach would lay out another S$5.5 million to refresh the goalkeeping position, as he brought in Sri Lankan custodian
Darshana De Abrew from Spanish seventh division club Mi Equipo 1. The 25 year-old Darshana was immediately issued the Number One jersey as International's new starter, and while he was not exactly the greatest hit at the unveiling, Reidenbach assured all present that he was the man that International needed at the moment.
"Phua will help stop some attacking moves before they start, but when it comes down to it, the goalkeeper is the final line in the sand." the head coach reminded. "Darshana has improved steadily through his travels, and that willingness to strike out and sample new horizons is something that I particularly prize."
Indeed, Darshana's transfer fee has only increased with each of his moves, with his transfer from now-defunct Chilean club Pancracio y su banda FC to Mi Equipo 1 involving close to S$4.2 million. Before that, Pancracio paid then-Danish Division Six side Måløv Football Club S$4 million, who in turn got him from Italy's FuarceUdin for S$3.2 million, where he had spent a month after arriving from Venezuela's F.C. La Rosalia on a S$2.6 million deal. Rosalia can claim the biggest profit of all, then, having taken Darshana on from current Sri Lankan II.4 promotees Sri Leions, for free.
International had plenty of competition for Darshana's signature, with Italian VI.827 club Vitto94 having confirmed their early interest, together with FC Cuibușor de Nebunii (Romanian H.A.L V.82) and FC Kasiarze (Polish VI.545). It would eventually come down to Argentine Division Six side Unwanted Actions, whose Italian boss Anselmo Ambu was eager for an upgrade on Fernando Freire, having just refilled the coffers with the sale of several regular midfielders. International's need - and willingness to spend - was greater, however.
Reidenbach did invite long-serving starter
Querubim Santos Couto to contest for his place, although being 37 years of age, it could not have come as a total surprise to Couto that the club were looking for his successor. Reidenbach confirmed that
Azri bin Sazali and
Rosmin bin Hj Khamis are now third and fourth in the pecking order respectively, although there are no plans to move either of them on.
