S-LEAGUE SOCCER

By BEN NADARAJAN

HAVING lost its S-League Player of the Year S. Subramani last week, Tanjong Pagar United has moved quickly to fill the gap left by his departure to Home United.

The Jaguars signed national defender Robin Chitrakar on Saturday from SAFFC.

The 22-year-old will take over Subramani's place in defence and he knows that a heavy responsibility rests on his young shoulders.

"Tanjong Pagar had the meanest defence last season. Now I have the duty to try my best to make sure this will be the same next season," said the stopper.

The defender is leaving SAFFC after completing his national service.

But there was also a more practical reason. "I joined Tanjong Pagar mainly because it is my hometown club as I stay in the Queenstown area," he said.

Jaguars coach Tohari Paijan was glad to have the 1996 Young Player of the Year. He said: "Robin is a very good man-marker. He is a quiet player, but he will do what the coach wants to the best of his ability. His actions on the field speak louder than words."

Chitrakar is only one of two players -- the other being Fandi Ahmad -- who have won three league titles in the three years since the S-League started.

He first won it with Geylang in 1996, then in the next two years with SAFFC.

To date, he has seven winners' medals -- three league titles, two Singapore Cups and two FA Cups.

So will he prove to be the Jaguars' lucky charm in their hunt for league glory?

Coach Tohari laughed it off, saying: "I don't believe in luck. Robin has the experience of what it takes to be a champion, therefore he will be a great asset to us."