A New Hero
Grilled's first full season was marked by the meteoric emergence of Tim Hobson, the celebrated English forward
who scored in eleven of fourteen league games for the Grilled. Nundah Knights of Australia might have regretted
selling him for just S$12 500, when the temperamental Hobson lashed four past Winners 90 in the landmark season
opener.
Qi Haupai continued the reorganisation of the team, having discarded captain Lin Yin-Xiang and ageing midfielders
Xuen Le-Thu and Mo Hiu-Lam weeks ago. Tan Ong, a steady rightback, joined from a neighbourhood side, but Haupai's
main captures were Spaniards Rafael García Sole and Ricard Machado.
Haupai would not stay to reap the fruits of his labour, as he fell out with the management over his leadership.
Ouyang Shung-Tat grabbed the reins without a hitch, as he presided over three 4-nil wins and a draw to enter the
postseason in fine form.
Shung-Tat is probably most remembered for his fine youth scouting, at a time when Grilled's academy was still under
construction. The ripping pace of Aznan Noor Yadah, and the muscle of Zhan Ju-Hau were found in two hectic weeks
between the seasons.
Grilled established themselves as an above-average Division Four outfit, losing only to Snowdogs and Winning Eleven
at season's dawn. They were held scoreless only once, finishing eleven points clear of fourth place and only one
behind second-placed A5_Paper, who had come down the previous season.
Northern luminaries Winning Eleven were just too strong for this level, and Grilled had the honour of denying them a
perfect forty-two points with a 2-all draw away, the birth of a rivarly which would resume seasons later in the
hallowed heights of the S-League.
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