June 4 2004

The message was out & clear as Chinese club Sinchi, who are ninth in the 10-team League with only 1 win and 2 draws after 12 games, sacked 5 under-performing players

Sinchi released Chen Yujie, Yu Xiaozhou, Li Jianqiang, Liu Heng & Lian Tao.

It is not totally unexpected as the club last season had also released 10 players as well as the coach during last season transfer window.

Sinchi vice-chairman Wang Jinhui said the club needed new players, preferably experienced players as the club main problem is their inexperience so with an eye to gaining points the new players must be able to guide the young players.

They have brought in former Chinese national youth players Zhou Yi, 21 & Li Benjian, 18.

Zhou was the forward who scored a free-kick against Myanmar in an Asian Under-20 Championship qualifier in Singapore 2 years ago to force a 1-1 draw. He was previously touted as a key member at Sinchi but he was injured in their opening match – a 1-2 loss against Home United. He was then sent back to China but returned to Singapore last week after having recovered from his injury.

Li was part of the Chinese Under-17 team that reached the 10th Asian Under-17 Football Championship semi-final 2 years ago in the United Arab Emirates. The midfielder has been waiting in the wings since arriving here in March

Another 4 new players will arrive within a week & Wang promised they are all experienced who have played in the Chinese Jia A & Jia B divisions.