Reifeles Inbound
With the furore over the Trophy of Legends and associated tourneys having settled, it would be time to turn attention back to the local leagues, and Grilled Birds would have to contemplate another season contending with Phantasm Hotspurs, who were overawed 1-4 against Ubin's CE Sindiket 07. Despite sustaining early injuries to Ceri Shaw and Paolo Scasciamacchia, Sindiket were never in real trouble, and Masyhur Zulfadhli's reducer against the run of play 73 minutes in only spurred them on to widen the lead further.
Tian Yonghang was of the opinion that Sindiket didn't do all that much more than Grilled had in their critical season-end defeat, but gave them their due. "In the end, it's the score that matters, we will do well to remember that. Hotspurs have reinforced with Rafiuddin Indra Putra and Mohd Zabir Azim for close to S$12 million in any case, so we will have our hands full."
tpyers and Mayuyu AKB48 also retained their places, with convincing whitewashes of Bishan East Zone 3 and ~ Arsenal ~ respectively. There would be effectively be a special qualifier held for Sunrise Treasure FC's spot, with Tanglin III.14 members Young Lionss duking it out with semi-pros ggttbtbyny, only to lose 0-3. ggttbtbyny would then agree to a request by Offshore Haven to join III.14 in their place, which left ggttbtbyny assigned to III.1.
Far more of the talk would be about IV.19 champs Sporting Reifeles, who had returned to Division Three after an undefeated season, which followed from two terms in III.14. "I have heard much of them, and it's a little of a pity that we haven't met them yet - but better late than never!" Tian continued.
There would also be some reshuffling of sponsors, with Universal Import Trading taking over the contract for both the Birds and International. "They offered excellent incentives for goals, and that's right up our wheelhouse." Birds spokesman Peter Gerald explained. "And I speak for both clubs here". The Buns would instead go with Inner Peace Insurance's more-conventional offer, preferring a steady income stream.
