Khairul, Imran Sojourn
Two Busy Bees academy graduates would strike out today, with 17 year-old Mohd Khairul bin Nokman first getting his start with Argentine VI.64 side Tiju2021. The Santa Fe outfit recruited Mohd Khairul together with Swedes Jan Henriksson and Christian Hedholt, and Romanian Aurel Rădulescu, although it remains to be seen where the often-unreadable enigma will distinguish himself at.
"Khairul's problem was that we didn't know where to play him." Bees scout Zulfadly bin Hj Ratano recounted. "He could do a job in midfield, on the wing, even in attack. Had he stuck to a single role, his stock might have been even higher... or maybe not, considering his free-spirited character."
Mohd Khairul would have a competing offer from Polish VII.96 club FC Black Panthera, but the opportunity to develop with others his age won him over to Slovakian head coach Valeriy Gluschenko's pitch. "It's a new environment - just how I like it!"
18 year-old forward Imran bin Abu would leave on a free too, to Danish VI.486 team Lyngby. Regarded as a local institution, but not exactly one where dreams are made from how they have bounced between the fifth and sixth divisions in their sixty-season history, Lyngby would remain a good place for Imran to find his footing, according to Zulfadly.
"I'll be frank, Imran's not the most natural footballer." the scout said. "Quite a few of us had reservations about taking him on after he got rejected by Symbadisch Brunei. He put in the hard work, more than most in fact, but that only takes one so far. Lyngby are a nice fit for his direct style, and as to whether he can take the next step... well, it's up to him."
