S-league
2008 Transfer News
*
Confirmed transfer ** Expected transfer *** Pending/Unconfirmed transfer
Sead Muratovic and Razif Mahamud (Tampines Rovers -> ?) *
Fathi Yunus (Balestier Khalsa -> Tampines Rovers) *
Young Lions sign Obadin Aikhena
and Danny Hammond
Obadin
Aikhena only on trial with Young Lions
Gombak United
website ‘announce’ Agu departure
2008 Balestier Khalsa squad
Seto
Haruki (YKK AP (JFL) -> Balestier Khalsa) *
Bekombo
Ekollo Ntonye Paul Onyekachi (Sengkang Punggol -> Balestier Khalsa) *
Kaze Teffo
Etienne Giscard and Mba Vitus Onyekachi (Balestier Khalsa) *
2008 Woodlands Wellington squad
2008 SAFFC squad
Warriors and ex-Protectors Aidil
Sharin retires
2008 Gombak United squad
Fadhil Salim
(Woodlands Wellington -> Gombak United) *
It Obadin Aikhena who heading to
the Young Lions
Indra Sahdan (Home United ->
Salt Lake City (MLS)) ***
Ahmad Latiff (PDRM (MSL) -> SAFFC) ***
Shogo Yoshizawa (Albirex Niigata
(J) -> Young Lions) ***
2008 Tampines Rovers squad
Yusiskandar
Yusop (Young Lions -> Tampines Rovers) *
2008 Sengkang Punggol squad
Sengkang Punggol: We are spending
$840000 on salaries
Yusiskandar
Yusop Wiston Yap (Sengkang Punggol) *
Hafez Mawasi (Free agent -> Sengkang Punggol) *
Ali Imran Lomri (Woodlands Wellington -> Sengkang Punggol) *
Syed Faruk: Sead was sick
Tampines
could move for Pipat in June
John Yap: Agu yet to sign on the
dotted line
Bulls ‘looking’ to sign Nigerian
midfielder
Ang Bang
Heng, Lenan Govindaraju and Nawfal Shahib (Balestier Khalsa) *
Khariul Amri can only move in
June
Hyrulnizam Juma'at, Zulfadli Zainal Abidin, Noor Ikhsan, Sufian Anuar,
Sebastian Seah, Hamqammal Shah and Muhd Firdaus Idros
(Young Lions) *
Adi Salleh (Gombak United -> Sengkang Punggol) *
2008 Geylang United squad
2008 Home United squad
Syaqir Sulaiman (Home United Prime League -> Home United) *
Tetsuya Okayama (Albirex Niigata (S)) *
Dolphins complete their foreign quartet
Delights in Japanese camp as Hiroyuki Yamamoto make
S-league his home
Sengkang Punggol signs Hiroyuki Yamamoto
Fadzuhasny Juraimi joined
Woodlands Wellington
Home United complete their
foreign signings
Tengku Mushadad (Young Lions
-> Home United) *
Sead Muratovic on the way out?
Zakaria Normat (Young Lions -> Balestier Khalsa) *
Hiroyuki Yamamoto at trial with
Sengkang Punggol
Andrew Tan (Balestier Khalsa
Prime League -> Young Lions) ***
Sivaji: Lewis’s fate will be
known by January end
Joey Sim (Home United Prime League -> Sengkang
Punggol) *
Fazli Jaffar (Gombak United -> Home United) *
Bulls
looking at yet another African to join them
Bah Mamadou (Woodlands Wellington
-> Gombak United) *
Syed Karim (Gombak United Prime League -> SAFFC) *
Takatoshi
Uchida, Akira Takase, Norio Takahashi and Keisuke Ogawa (Albirex Niigata (S))
*
Slovakians sign for Geylang United
Fabian Tan (Young Lions -> Geylang United) *
Farhan Farook (Sengkang Punggol -> Home
United) *
2008 Super
Reds squad
Ryuta Doi (Vissel
Kobe -> Albirex Niigata (S)) *
Geylang
United signed 2 Brazilians and eyeing 2 Slovak
players
Lionel Lewis (Home United ->
Grasshoppers Zurich(Swiss Super League)) ***
Faizal signs
on with Bulls
Qiu Li
signed to replace Pipat Thonkanya
Santi Chaiyaphuak, Sead Muratovic, Aliff Shaffein and Ridhuan Muhammad
(Tampines Rovers) *
Razif Mahamud (SAFFC -> Tampines Rovers) *
Imran Sahib (Woodlands Wellington -> Tampines Rovers) *
Pipat
Thonkanya move to Stags blocked
Goh Swee Swee (Home United -> Young
Lions) *
Hideaki
Iwahana, Eiichiro Ozaki, Kosei Yokoi, Junjiro Tani, Kazuma Miyauchi, Masato
Anzai, Jun Ishikawa, Yoshitaka Komori, Hideaki Sasaki, Takayuki Motoshimizu,
Taiki Hamada, Masatoshi Saiga, Yohei Machida, Kenta Toyota, Genji Nakamura,
Akihiko Shimizu, Takayuki Watanabe and Yutaka Ozawa (Albirex Niigata (S) ->
?) *
Qiu Li and
Jonathon Angelucci on trials with Stags
S-league
leading marksman going to Hougang
Ratna Suffian (Balestier Khalsa -> Sengkang Punggol) *
Faizal delayed joining Police Force
Pipat Thonkanya is a Stags
Fajar Sarib (Geylang United) *
Sivaji: Faizal Hamid will join us in July
Kim Sang Eun, U Ja Rang, Lim Dae Geun,
Jeong Byung Euk and Joo Ki Hwan (Super Reds) *
Jeon Kyeong Joon (Brunei DPMM
(MSL) -> Super Reds) *
Park Moon-ki (Cheongnam Dragons
(K1)-> Super Reds) *
Yoon Bo-young (Goyang Kookmin Bank
(N-league) -> Super Reds) *
SAFFC defender Faizal Hamid taking a
year break
Geylang United ‘eye’ Brazilian forward
Noh Rahman, Aide Iskandar, Lau Meng Meng, Jonathan Xu, Syed Thaha and Hafiz
Rahim (Geylang United) *
Lucian Dronca at Bishan?
Nazri: Alam Shah can return next
season
Fadzu will stay with the Eagles
Shah Hirul (Geylang United Prime League -> Geylang United) *
SAFFC looking at Japanese
midfielder
Nazri Nasir retires after 12
years of service in the S-league
Farizal Basri (Balestier Khalsa -> Geylang United) **
Faizal Senin (Gombak United -> Geylang United) **
Tampines Rovers ‘linked’ with
Thai striker Pipat Thonkanya
Agu Casmir (Gombak United ->
Tampines Rovers) ***
Noh Alam Shah joined PDRM
Gabriel Obatola (Gombak United
-> Young Lions) *
Ishak Zainol, Jalal, Ruhaizad
Ismail, Jaslee Hatta, Sevki Sha’ban, Kingsley Njoku and Precious Emuejeraye
(Gombak United) *
Mirko Grabovac (Tampines Rovers
-> Sengkang Punggol) ***
Razali Johari (Geylang United -> Sengkang Punggol) **
Masrezwan Masturi (SAFFC ->
Geylang United) **
Fadzuhasny Juraimi and Razali
Johari (Geylang United -> ?) **
Hassan Sunny (Geylang United
-> Tampines Rovers) *
Shaiful Esah (SAFFC -> Young
Lions) ***
Mahmod Hashim, Firdaus Salleh, Suriyandi Naib and Haris Sumri (Sengkang Punggol) *
Amos Boon, Winston Yap, Mohd
Mardani, Tan Sio Beng, Ross McKenzie, Jonathon Angelucci, Cole Tinkler and Paul
Bekombo Ekollo (Sengkang Punggol -> ?) *
TODAY report Alam Shah in talks
with Malaysia clubs
Pelita Jaya seeking 3 players
from S-league
Ahmed Fahmie, Alimin Mohamed, Edward Tan, Firdaus Kasman, Naufal Omar and
Kairuldin Ishak (Tampines Rovers Prime League
-> Tampines Rovers) **
Home website ‘confirm’ Peres
rumors
Lucian Dronca, Laakkad Abdelhadi,
Akihiro Nakamura & Park Tae Won (Woodlands Wellington) *
Shahri Musa & Syaiful Iskandar (Woodlands Wellington Prime League -> Woodlands Wellington) *
Ahmadulhaq Che Omar (Tampines Rovers -> Woodlands Wellington) *
Peres de Oliveira (Tampines
Rovers -> Home United) ***
Syed Fadhill (Geylang United
-> Home United) ***
Khairul Amri (Young Lions -> Home United) **
Razaleigh Khalik, (Geylang United
-> SAFFC) **
Fazrul Nawaz & Baihakki
Khaizan (Young Lions -> Geylang United) **
Noh Alam Shah (Tampines Rovers
-> Pelita Jaya (Indonesia Liga)>) ***
Ridhwan Jamaludin (Young Lions -> Gombak United) *
Noor Ali (SAFFC -> Geylang
United) **
Kone Hamed & Diakite Fode
Bangaly (Home United -> ?) *
Ryuji Sueoka, Fortune Udo, Mba
Onyekachi & Kaze Giscard (Balestier Khalsa -> ?)
*
Ahmad Latiff (Woodlands Wellington
-> PDRM (MSL)) *
Moudourou Moise (Woodlands
Wellington -> Johor FC (MSL)) *
Young Lions Moise moved across the
Causeway
Malaysian Star have reported Johor FC, who is in the Malaysian
Super League, have landed Young Lions
The Super League club side presented the player at a contract
signing ceremony over the weekend.
He will join former Public Bank's Argentine midfielder Gustavo
Fuentes and long-serving Argentine Walter Ariel Silva, who is into his fourth
season with the team, as the foreign signings of the Johore club.
Moise Moudourou had started for the Young Lions since the 2006
season after joining them from the now defunct Paya Lebar Punggol club.
Days after departing Woodlands
PDRM, in a press conference in Malaysia, have announced they have
come to an agreement with the
The 28-year-old player will be playing in the Malaysia Super
League for the first time but it is his second stint in Malaysia with him
having play in the second tier, the Malaysia Permier League, in 2006 with
Johore FA.
PDRM is
Tigers released their foreigners
It was no surprise when it was revealed Toa Payoh based Balestier
Khalsa have decided to part company with all their 4 foreigners for the
upcoming 2008 season.
With
club finishing just outside the bottom 3 thus failing to build on their 2006
performance, which saw them just 1 spot away from the top half of the league,
the club believed it is time for a fresh start.
Ryuji
Sueoka and Fortune Udo have failed to spark as
an attacking upfront while Mba Onyekachi & Kaze
Giscard failed to provide the leadership in midfield.
Tigers
Chairman Balbeer Singh Mangat further signals that stance of a fresh start by
also releasing coach Abdul Karim Razzak, who had guided the club for the past 4
years and highly regarded as the person who saved the Tigers from obviation.
Home see the departure of Kone Hamed and
Diakite Fode Bangaly
A major surprise has emerged from Home United as the club released
2 of their most impressive foreigners, Kone Hamed & Diakite Fode Bangaly, from last season campaign.
It was especially surprising for Kone Hamed as he had been the player who
ended fellow title challengers Tampines Rovers title hopes when he scored both
goals at Bishan to send the Stags crashing down to earth.
The
Ivorian had been a flashy midfielder all season long, impressing and wooing
many with his dribbling, passing and shooting skills, and contributing 10 goals
in the league campaign as well.
As for
Diakite Fode Bangaly, he had originally been signed on as a defender but played
so impressively as a defensive midfielder that the spot was his.
The
club would be hard pressed to find another 2 players of such quality as
replacement especially for Kone Hamed.
Noor Ali heading back to Eagles
After 3 seasons with the Warriors, Noor Ali have departed the
6-times S-league champions and it is widely expected the 32-year-old midfielder
will be heading back to the Bedok-based Geylag United.
Noor Ali had played for the Eagles between 2000 to 2004 and in the
Eagles last championship win in 2001, Noor Ali had played a huge part scoring
12 goals in the league and contributing many assists for the Eagles leading
marksman Aleksandar Duric.
In his 3 years with the Warriors, Noor Ali had a part in the
Warriors revival back as the Kingpin of Singapore football as the Warriors won
the last 2 championships after going 4 years without a single trophy.
Noor Ali have scored 25 S-league goals in 96 S-league appearances
for the Warriors.
Alam Shah eyes Indonesian chance
Singapore striker Noh Alam Shah, banned for a year for a frenzied
on-pitch attack on an international team mate, could be handed an Indonesian
lifeline.
The Tampines Rovers frontman was slapped with the 12-month ban on
Monday for last month's Cup final attack on SAFFC defender Daniel Bennett.
Alam Shah kneed Bennett in the face and kicked him in the back as
Tampines went down 4-3 in the fiery final. He had to be shepherded from the
pitch by team mates as he struggled to break free.
The striker's ban only extends to Singaporean domestic
competition, however, and former
"Alam Shah will be an asset to Pelita (Jaya)," Fandi
said. "He has the speed, physical presence and finishing power to be a
feared striker.
"He is already very well known in
The fixture pile-up in
"Once I know when the season finishes I can plan on bringing
Alam Shah over," he told the Straits Times newspaper.
Pelita Jaya are 11th in the 18-team Indonesian league.
Alam Shah, who is still eligible to play for Singapore in their
World Cup qualifying campaign, is his country's leading goalscorer with 28
strikes in 63 appearances.
He won the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player awards at this
year's ASEAN Soccer Championship after scoring 10 goals including seven in one
match.
Hat-trick hero Fazrul on way back to
Eagles
After scoring a hat-trick in the SEA Games to help
Since being loan from the Eagles to the Young Lions team 2 years
ago, the 22-year-old striker have hit a decent 15 S-league goals in 59
appearances for the Young Lions.
But with him not eligible for the SEA Games in 2009, the forward
will be going back to the Eagles where since his debut in 2004, he has scored
10 S-league goals in 50 appearances.
Following him back to Eagles will be Baihakki Khaizan who had also
been loan to Young Lions by the Eagles back in 2004.
Baihakki Khaizan is a key member of the
Baihakki has make 92 appearances for the Young Lions in his
4-years stint with the club.
Razaleigh Khalik to be a
Warriors
With Baihakki Khaizan pending return back to the Eagles fold, Razaleigh
Khalik is the player to make way as the defender has been released by the
Eagles.
However the 26-year-old defender could be joining S-league
Champions SAFFC in the upcoming season as contract talks have begun between the
pairs.
Razaleigh would be a welcome addition to the Warriors camp with
his experience in the league and Asia as they looked to win the 3-pelat of
league title as well as continued success in the AFC Cup and RHB
Khairul Amri is set to join Home United for the upcoming 2008
season.
The forward, who is serving his National Service with Police, is
expected to be released by Young Lions to join Home United as the Bishan club
is in the AFC Cup next year and it is believed he will benefit much from
playing in Asia.
The forward who have only appeared for the Young Lions in the
S-league has make 109 appearances for the club scoring 48 goals.
Fadhill rumored to be joining Home
Syed Fadhill who had been Eagles most consistent midfielder of the
past few seasons is rumored to have agreed to join Home United.
If true, the 26 year-old midfielder will be leaving his debutant
club and - discounting his stint with Young Lions where he was on loan - he
will be leaving the only club he had known.
Since his return from the Young Lions, the player had always been
among the first name on the name sheet of the Eagles and last season he had his
most impressive season ever scoring 7 goals, as many as his total in all the
previous seasons,and leading the Eagles to a top half finish, their best
performances in the last 4 years.
As the Christmas period near, Home United appear to be in a
shopping mood as the rumors suggest with former hero Peres de
Oliveira the latest to have his name linked to the Bishan club.
Peres
de Oliveira had played for Home United from 1999 until 2003 scoring 106
S-league goals – 87 in the league and 19 in Cup competition – and is in third
place in the club list of leading scorer behind Egmar Gonclaves and Indra
Shadan as well as winning his first and only individual award, the 2003 Player
of the Year, while at Home United.
The
Brazilian had left his club of 2 years, Tampines Rovers, suggesting he wished
to go overseas but it may be a case of ‘HOME sick’ Peres with the rumors
swirling.
Rams retain their 4 foreigners
Despite finishing a disappointing 7th in the league, Woodlands
Wellington have retain all 4 of their foreigners –
Lucian Dronca, Laakkad Abdelhadi, Akihiro Nakamura & Park Tae Won – for the 2008 season.
Coach Jorg Steinebrunner explained the decision was based on the
quartet’s ability to gel with the squad in a media interview with FW.
“Our 4
foreigners have added quality and have a good mentality and I always believed
that the foreigners must mix and socialize with the local players and I think
we have found a good mix.”
“If the
like of Laakkad Abdelhadi and Park Tae Won, who missed a combine of about 20
games last season, we can expect more from them next season.”
However Jorg Steinebrunner refused to set a target for the league
next season but set a semi-final target for the
Home website ‘confirmed’ Peres rumors
In an
article Season
2008 - What's latest @ HUFC, Home United have confirmed they are
talking a great player familiar to Bishan.
That
would only leave the logic choice of Peres de Oliveira as the rumors have
suggested and it should be no surprise that the club is looking for a player as
flashy and brilliantly as Peres to
replace Kone Hamed, who had a brilliant 2007 season with Home United, in the
midfield role.
Peres
record in the S-league is undisputable having won 2003 Player of the Year at
Home United and scoring, up to date, 137 S-league goals in his 9 years in the
S-league.
Pelita Jaya seeking 3
players from S-league
In a TV
interview conducted in Indonesia, Fandi Ahmad, coach of Indonesia Liga side
Pelita Jaya, reveal he is seeking 3 players from the S-league to play in his
side for next season once the current league season end.
Top of
his list is striker Noh Alam Shah but as for the other 2, he decline to reveal
any details.
The
If
Fandi is looking for top talents, he will certain be disappointed if he waited
until January to conduct his business for such talents will have been snatched
before December ended even with the attractions of higher salaries in Indonesia
Liga.
TODAY report Alam Shah in
talks with
Ahmad Latiff is currently the only Singaporean player playing in the Malaysian Super League plying his trades for PDRM.
Alam
Shah also confirmed he had received such offers from other countries as well, but said his plans are not confirmed
yet.
Shaiful Esah called up for Young
Lions?
There
were indications that FAS will be calling up the members who are eligible for
SEA Games 2009 for the upcoming 2008 S-league season even if they maybe regular
starter in their respective clubs.
This may mean Shaiful Esah, who has been a regular in a strong
Warriors side, will re-join the Young Lions, having started his S-league debut
there in 2004.
However
the Warriors may appeal such a move as the SEA Games are 2 years away and the
club is playing in Asia in the AFC Cup which will benefit Shaiful Esah more if
he can continued playing for the Warriors.
Dolphins make sweeping changes
Regular Wooden Spoon contender Sengkang Punggol have
make sweeping changes for the 2008 season.
The Hougang club have released veterans players like
Amos Boon, Winston Yap, Mohd Mardani and Tan Sio Beng and club manager Robert
Tan stated it was mainly because the club was looking towards the future.
Only 4 players – Mahmod Hashim, Firdaus Salleh,
Suriyandi Naib and Suriyandi Naib – were retained as the club management
believed these players are still young enough to develop into better players as
well as guiding the younger players the clubs are looking at.
As for the foreigners the club have released, Tan
pulled no punches in declaring these players as ‘disappointing’.
Tan commented to FW: “Our local players can perform
and be even better than the foreigners we had and that’s why we have released
them.
They also have not done well in term of discipline and
foreigners, with the high salaries we’re paying them, are supposed to be better
than locals but that’s not been the case.”
SEA
Games goalkeeper star move to Tampines
In the
weeks building up to the SEA Games, where Singapore Under 23 won a bronze and
Hassan Sunny impress between the woodwork, he did not know whether he would be
playing football in the S-League next season.
There
was no indication from his club, Geylang United, they were going to renew his contract, which ends on Dec 31, or even renegotiate.
But
all’s well now for the
Hassan
began his career with Geylang in 2003 where he had a successful start keeping
13 clean sheets in 35 S-league appearances. He then was loaned to play for the
Young Lions in 2004 and 2005. He rejoined the
Eagles in 2006 and spent the last two seasons there but has struggled to
recapture the form of 2003 with a leaky defence in front of him but still
keeping a further 11 clean sheets in 54 S-league appearances.
The
Eagles has moved for Sengkang Punggol goalkeeper Amos Boon to replace the
departed Hassan Sunny as the Eagles looked to rebuild for the 2008 season to
regain their spot among the Big Clubs.
Amos
Boon has been with Sengkang Punggol since 2006 after joining from Home United,
where he make his return to football in 2005 after retiring in 2003 when the
club he was with, now defunct Sengkang Marine folded with debts woes.
It is
believed striker Fadzuhasny Juraimi and midfielder Razali Johari have departed
Geylang United as both could not get assurance from the club head coach, Jozef
Herel, of being first team regulars next season.
Fadzuhasny
Juraimi still had a contract with the Eagles up to December 2008 but the former
international could not stomach a season on the bench having played for the
likes of powerhouse SAFFC and Home United previously.
Therefore
the 28-year-old forward requested for a release from his contract and the club
has cede to his request.
For
Razali Johari, it is another step indicating how badly the former Under-23
international have fared in recent times that he cannot keep his place in the
Eagles squad.
Masrezwan Masturi joined Eagles revolution
SAFFC
forward Masrezwan Masturi has join Geylang United revolution.
Since
the end of the season, the Eastern based club has been signing and releasing a
host of players as the former Singapore kingpin looked to continue to build on
last season top half finish – their first after 4 seasons of bottom half
finishes.
Masrezwan
Masturi has found his second stint – he had played for the Warriors from 2001
to 2002 – in the Warriors arena tougher with heavy competition from fellow
forwards Ashrin Shariff and Norikazu Murakami as well as midfielders Therdsak
Chaiman and John Wilkinson who could slot in as forwards.
Finding
his chances limited as he only make 20 appearances in the league and half of
them as substitutes in the 2007 season,
the 26-year-old forward requested a transfer, which the Warriors agreed
to, and which Geylang United have make a move for.
The
former Warriors and Rams forward will be replacing the departed Fadzuhasny
Juraimi at Geylang United.
Stags
midfielder Sutee Suksomkit has agreed a new contract with Tampines Rovers to
extend his stay at the Eastern club for another season.
The
Thai only moved to the Stags last season after his departure from Home United
where he played for the previous 4 years and he had a decent 2007 season
contributing 8 goals in the S-league and 1 goal in the AFC Cup but failed to
help the Stags win either the league or the Cup.
This
will be the Thai 7th year in the S-league since coming here as a dropout from
the Thai Under-23 team and he has now scored 56 goals in the S-league.
In a
one of the surprising rumor of the close season, there are talks that regular
Wooden Spoon contender Sengkang Punggol is aiming to sign S-league highest ever
goalscorer Mirko Grabovac.
The
ex-international forward had been released by the Stags after 4 years of
service as the club refused to extend his contract for he had also contacted
other clubs in negotiation.
During
his 4-years with the Stags, it was the golden era for the Stags with 3 trophies
laden years as they won 2 league titles and 2
Before
that, the forward had an ever better resume with the Warriors notching up 152
S-league goals in 5 seasons and finishing 4 of the seasons as top scorer.
It is
no wonder then the forward remain a hot property even with his advanced age of
37 next season.
The
Dolphins are reportedly offering him the post of assistant coach along with a
player contract as it is known the forward is looking toward the future when he
will have to hang up his boot.
Bulls dismissed rumors of exodus
Gombak
United chairman John Yap quelled rumors of an exodus of players as he unveiled
the retaining of 7 players – Ishak
Zainol, Jalal, Ruhaizad Ismail, Jaslee Hatta, Sevki Sha’ban, Kingsley Njoku and
Precious Emuejeraye – for the 2008
season.
He
explained that they were late in negotiating with the players before the retain
list date but had assured the core of the team, that finished an impressive
fourth place in 2007, they will be retained and will receive their due rewards
in the new contract.
Having
retained 7 members with more likely to follow including top scorer Agu Casmir,
the Bulls will be expected to follow up on their successful 2007 season but
John Yap refused to set a higher goal.
He
said: “Last season, we told the media we targeted mid-table but we ended up
fourth so this season will be the same aim of mid-table
“Of
course, we would like to retain fourth spot but it’s difficult to topple Big 3
and I don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on the team.
In an
interview with FW, Gombak United chairman John Yap revealed Gabriel Obatola, who had an impressive 2007 season with the
Bulls, has left the club to ply his trade with the Young Lions under the Foreign
Talent Scheme (FTS).
He
said: “Gabriel has left to join the Young Lions after
his outstanding season. He was reluctant to leave but we had to look at
It was
also noted head coach Salim Moin was also recruited by FAS for the
“If he
was moving to a rival club, we would have blocked him but he’s moving to
greener pastures so it was a different thing.”
Salim
assistant of the past 2 years, Swandi Ahmad have been handed the job of Bulls
head coach for next season.
Noh
Alam Shah will start a new life across the Causeway in the new year with
Selangor club Polis
The Tampines
Rovers striker, banned one year by the Football Association of Singapore for
attacking Singapore Armed Forces defender Daniel Bennett in the Singapore Cup
final, has signed for Malaysian Super League team Polis Di-Raja Malaysia
(PDRM).
This
was by PDRM assistant manager Mohd Gifari, who revealed that Alam Shah signed a
one-year deal.
He
said: 'We secured Alam Shah's signature late last week and he will join the
squad on Jan 1.
“To us,
he's the best striker in the Asean region and one of the best in
Coach
K. Thayanathan added: 'Alam Shah is well-known in
'I
can't wait to see him in action for PDRM.'
Alam
Shah will not be the only Singaporean in the team as he will be re-united with
former national team colleague Ahmad Latiff who has already made a good start
to his career across the Causeway, netting against Penang and Sarawak.
PDRM's
other foreign players are from
Bulls
forward Agu Casmir has been linked with Tampines Rovers as the 2004 and 2005
S-league champions looked to replace strikers Noh Alam Shah and Mirko Grabovac.
Grabovac
has not been retained by the club, after he had negotiated with other clubs angering
the Stags, while Alam Shah has been banned 1 year by FAS for attacking
Singapore Armed Forces defender Daniel Bennett in the Singapore Cup final thus
depriving the Eastern club of their lethal strikeforce of recent years.
Combined,
the both of them scored a total of 171 S-league goals and a further 27 Asian
goals in 4 years.
Therefore
it is not surprising the Stags will be seeking a forward with Agu resume as the
forward has scored 103 S-league goals in 6 seasons and is the youngest player
to reach the milestone of 100 S-league goals while for the national team he has
scored 7 times in 19 appearances.
Furthermore
Agu Casmir is a free agent as he has yet to sign on the dotted line with Gombak
United for the 2008 season.
So it
could well be no surprise to see Agu Casmir wearing the yellow jersey of the
Stags in the upcoming season ahead.
Tampines Rovers ‘linked’
with Thai striker Pipat Thonkanya
As the
2008 season get closer, the rumors mill continued to spin with Thai striker Pipat Thonkanya the latest to be linked
up with Tampines Rovers as the club search for a forward line for 2008.
Rumors
are spreading the Stags are ready to sign up a Thai striker and Pipat Thonkanya
will be the player joining.
Pipat
Thonkanya was in the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship and Asian Cup for the
Thai national side but is not a regular as yet.
However
he has a nose for goals as he was
He also scored both goals in his country’s memorable 2-0
victory over
Nazri Nasir
retires after 12 years of service in the S-league
The
midfielder turned defender later in his career was unwilling to extend his
career another year after the Stags disappointingly failed to win any silverware
at the end of the 2007 season.
The
team had been aiming for Asia and wanted to win the AFC Cup badly but like
previous years they were knocked in the quarter-final, this year by Jordanian
team Al Faisaly, while on the domestic
front the Warriors won the Double, leaving the club with nothing.
Nazri
started out his S-league career in 1996 with Sembawang Rangers but left the
club after just 1 season feeling the club lacked the vision and ambition to
match his own with the Stallions finishing
in the bottom two for both Series.
It
resulted in a tussle for him as Nazri
Nasir had a 2-year contract with the Stallions but the lure of winning his
first S-league championship medal proved too much as he demanded a transfer to
powerhouse SAFFC.
Nazri, in wanting to prove money was not his main
motivation, paid half of the Warriors S$30000 transfer fee to pave the way.
It soon
saw him getting the dividend as the Warriors won the domestic Treble while for
himself; he scooped the Player of the Year award that year.
More
trophies followed with the S-league title again in 1998 as he played an
important part in the final game against Gombak United as he clear a goal-bound
goal in the dying moment of the game to win the crown by goal difference.
There
was also the 1998 Tiger Cup –
He won
two more trophies during his stay with the Warriors - S-league 2000 and
Joining
Tampines Rovers in 2002 proved no different as the hunger remained as he lead
the Stags to their first ever trophy, the
Nazri
had retired from international football after the 2002 Tiger Cup having amassed
100 international caps with
The
player has won a remarkable five S-league, four Singapore Cup and one FA Cup
medal in his 12 years in the S-league as well as the 1998 Tiger Cup with
Singapore and scoring close to 40 S-league goals from his midfield role.
SAFFC looking at Japanese
midfielder
Thai
Premier League club
The 30 year-old midfielder is
believed to be having a trial with the 6-times S-league champions as the
Warriors still have 1 foreign slot not filled up for next season.
Masahiro Fukasawa has played in
J1 and J2 with
The
midfielder first went to
He joined
In the RHB Singapore Cup which the Thai club participated
in as 1 of the foreign team, Masahiro
Fukasawa had a creditable outing as he had a hand in Bangkok
University finishing in third place as he scored an
important hat-trick against Balestier Khalsa in the quarter-final tie.
Fadzu will stay with the Eagles
Contrary
to earlier rumors, it now appears Fadzuhasny Juraimi has come to an agreement with
the Eagles management and will serve out his contract.
Fadzuhasny
Juraimi still has a contract up to December 2008 with the Eagles but the former
international will have to improve his form vastly for the upcoming season
having only found the net 3 times in 23 appearances with the Eagles in 2007.
This
compared poorly when marked against Juraimi’s time at Tanjong Pagar United and
Home United when the forward found the net a combined 39 times; especially Home
United as he was a substitute on many occasions but still score an average of 1
goal every 3 games in the league.
Nazri: Alam Shah can return next
season
Tampines
Rovers new general manager Nazri Nasir has given the clearest indication of
next season biggest transfer.
In an
interview with the Today
paper, Nazri spoke about Alam Shah’s transfer to PDRM after his 1-year
suspension of the domestic league.
He
commented the club did not wish to see Alam Shah year wasted thus was glad he
can go across the causeway to PDRM and the management will await Alam Shah
return and they will give him the greatest support when he does return.
Woodlands
While
the chances of such a move are slim as the Rams has already committed Dronca to
a new contract for 2008, it is not surprising why Home United is linked to the
Romanian.
Home
United backline is the smallest in the league with almost every defender below
1.8 m and lacking a towering player and a player who has the heading ability as
well has hamper the team in set-pieces when defending or attacking.
As Home
United is also in the AFC Cup, the problem is magnified as Kedah and South China
are known to employed physical big man tactics upfront with Kedah using Marlon Alex James and South China using
Santos Silva and both are known to use their physical height and build to
overpower defenders to either score or create chances.
At this
moment if the Protectors do not get a new big man at the back, they will be
outgunned.
Geylang United ‘eye’ Brazilian
forward
Words
are emerging from Bedok that Geylang United is eyeing a Brazilian forward who
has impressed coach Jozef Herel in trials conducted by the club.
If
true, the Brazilian will be Jozef Herel first foreign recruit as the club had
released all their foreigners from the last campaign and has yet to sign
anybody to replace them.
Little
is known yet on the Brazilian forward except his name which is rumored to be Rivaldo but it is unlikely to be the same player who once
played for
At the time, the club in addition to retaining Noh Rahman,
Aide Iskandar, Jonathan Xu, and Syed Thaha, before the turn of the year, has
now retain Lau Meng Meng and Hafiz Rahim as well as both signed on the dotted
line.
SAFFC defender Faizal Hamid taking a
year break
SAFFC
and
The
26-year-old defender is concentrating on his new career as a prisons officer thus
decided it is best to take a break from football as he received intensive
training during that time.
Faizal
has also played for Geylang United and Young Lions previously. He joined the
Warriors in 2006 and won 2 championships and 1
He also
won all his 6 international caps last year despite
having been called up to the National Team way back in 2004.
2006 N-league MVP joining Super Reds
The
Super Reds has staged a major coup as they captured
Goyang Kookmin Bank forward Yoon Bo-young.
The 29 year-old forward was voted N-league MVP in his debut season
with Goyang Kookmin Bank in the N-league in 2006.
He had played for 4 times K-league Champions Pohang Steelers back
in 2001 but struggled to get his Steelers career off the road as he found the
net only 5 times in 45 appearances in the top flight in the next 3 years and
seeking a new direction, Yoon Bo-young joined the army in 2004.
He played for the army team, Gwangju, as he served his national
service for the next 2 years before departing in 2006 to join Goyang Kookmin
Bank.
Still the forward is not known for his goalscoring abilities
having only notch up 4 goals in 21 league appearances with Goyang Kookmin Bank.
Cheongnam Dragons defender
joined Super Reds
The 24 year-old defender has been with Cheongnam Dragons first
team for the last 3 years but only make 1 appearance during that for Cheongnam
Dragons and it was back back in 2006.
However he will be expected to bring much needed stability to the
Super Reds backline as they conceded 80 goals last season with an inexperienced
team with o K-league experience.
Super Reds announced
their squad for 2008
In an article in the S-league website – Super Reds get down
to business – the Super Reds revealed names for their 2008 season.
5 players Kim Sang Eun, U Ja Rang,
Lim Dae Geun, Jeong Byung Euk and Joo Ki Hwan were retained from last season
Super reds team while former Home and Reds Jeon
Kyeong Joon will return to play from Brunei DPMM.
He will also be one of the assistant coaches
along with former Jeju United player Hyun Ho Shin and like Jeon Kyeong Joon,
Hyun Ho Shin will be playing for the Super Reds.
2006
N-league MVP and Goyang Kookmin Bank forward Yoon
Bo-young and
Siviaji: Faizal Hamid will join us in
July
Home United coach P.N.Sivaji is delighted to know Faizal Hamid
has joined the Police Force as it will mean the national defender is only
eligible for the Bishan team.
The
former national coach had wanted to immediately include the national player for
the Protectors team for the 2008 season but as Faizal Hamid will be undergoing
intensive training for the next 6 months, it was decided it will be best to
leave the player out until the mid-season transfer window as least.
Sivaji
said: “Faizal’s a big talent. After he finishes the first 6 months of intensive
training, we may register him for the latter half of the season.”
Faizal
is also delighted with this outcome as he wants to concentrate on his new
career as a prisons officer first.
He
said: “I’m willing to put my football career on hold, and make sure I have a
job to fall back on after I retire from sports.”
It has been confirmed Thai striker Pipat
Thonkanya will sign with 2-times S-league Champions Tampines Rovers.
The club
has been looking for a new strikeforce since the departure of both Mirko
Grabovac and Noh Alam Shah who both combined to score 171 S-league goals in 4
years.
Fellow
Thai Sutee Suksomkit could be lining up beside Pipat as it is likely Sutee will
return back to being a forward in the S-league, after being converted to a
winger in his days with Home United, where he has some success having scored 31
S-league goals in 2 seasons with Tanjong Pagar United.
However
there will be pressure for the all Thai front line to deliver quickly and there
are questions if the Thai pair can have as much success as the Mirko and Alam
Shah combination.
Faizal delayed joining Police Force
In a
boost for the
Today report that the
26-year-old defender has decided to apply to join
the Singapore Prisons Service next year as the opportunity to represent
the Lions in the third round of the World Cup Asian Zone qualifiers proved too
good for the defender to turn down.
Last
week, Today had also reported Faizal, who played for SAFFC in 2006 and 20007,
was contemplating a career as a Prisons officer.
He has
yet to sign on with an S-League club this season but claimed he was in
negotiations with a team.
S-league leading marksman going to
Hougang
After
much negotiations and discussions between Sengkang Punggol and Mirko Grabovac,
the pair have come to an agreement with Mirko Grabovac joining the Dolphins as assistant
coach cum player role.
It
showcases the ambitions of the Hougang team for the upcoming 2008 season that a
player with Grabovac resume is joining.
Mirko
Grabovac is S-league all-time leading Marksman with 244 S-league goals with 152
S-league goals scored with SAFFC and 92 S-league goals with Tampines Rovers.
He has
also scored another 17 goals in Asian competitions.
Qiu Li and Jonathon Angelucci on
trials with Stags
Still
feeling the effect of the loss of their 2 leading marksman, Tampines Rovers are
undecided on their new attacking lineup as Ex-Home United Qiu Li and
Ex-Sengkang Punggol Jonathon Angelucci have been spotted having trials with the
team.
It is
clear the club is looking for a target man as Pipat Thonkanya and Sutee
Suksomkit are not the biggest upfront and they will need a more physical
presence alongside 1 of them.
But the
Stags fans will not be delighted to know or even believe it will be 1 of them
for Qiu Li is not known for his goalscoring with only 8 goals last season with
a team like Home United noted for it attacking football while Jonathon
Angelucci has better goal ratio, with 44 goals in 102 league matches and a
better goal ratio in Cup matches with 12 goals in 18 matches, he is also noted
for his high ratio of shocking misses of goalscoring chances.
If
given the choice between the pair though, it will be Jonathon Angelucci they
hoped will be chosen.
Albirex Niigata (S) working with
In an
announcement on their website (In Japanese),
the White Swans will be working with
This
will be on top of players chosen from their own squad as well as their Under-19
team as well as from other team squads and their Under-19 squads as like
previous years.
The
Japanese Swans have released Hideaki Iwahana, Eiichiro Ozaki, Kosei Yokoi and
Junjiro Tani, who are from their own squad in Japan, after their contracts have
expired while at the same time they returned 14 players back to their
respective clubs after their loan ended at the end of the season.
The
players are Kazuma Miyauchi, Masato Anzai, Jun Ishikawa, Yoshitaka Komori,
Hideaki Sasaki, Takayuki Motoshimizu, Taiki Hamada, Masatoshi Saiga, Yohei
Machida, Kenta Toyota, Genji Nakamura, Akihiko Shimizu, Takayuki Watanabe and
Yutaka Ozawa.
Goh Swee Swee moving to Young Lions
Home
United player Goh Swee Swee has been selected to join the Young Lions for the
2008 season.
The 21
year-old player had an excellent start to the 2007 season in the SingTel League
Cup where he make an impression as he scored to secure a third -place for the
Bishan team.
2 weeks
later as the League got on the way, the forward score another to lead Home
United to a 2-1 win against
Therefore
he had to be shifted into defence, where Home United needed help on the full
back positions, to get his chances but
he failed to spark in unfamiliar territory.
He will
be hoping the move to Young Lions work well for him and see him back to the
front where he will then be able claim a stake at the National team.
Pipat Thonkanya move to Stags blocked
It
seems the reported trials of Ex-Home United Qiu Li and Ex-Sengkang Punggol
Jonathon Angelucci was not to find a partner for Pipat Thonkanya but to replace
him.
News
are surfacing that Thai forward Pipat Thonkanya move to Tampines Rovers could
be off.
The
29-year-old was earlier said to be on the verge of moving to Tampines Rovers
from Thai powerhouses BEC Tero Sasana but the Stags is now resigning themselves
to the fact that the move might be off as BEC Tero had blocked the move.
The
Thai club is withholding the player’s transfer by refusing to transfer the
international transfer certificate to
Tampines
team manager Syed Faruk confirmed the news as he said, “It’s true that the move
hasn’t worked out yet.
“There
is a slight problem Pipat is facing back in
“But we
are still keeping contact with Pipat, and there is still a bit of a waiting
game we have to play. We might still be able to pull the move off.”
Qiu Li signed to replace Pipat
Thonkanya
It is
official now. Thai forward Pipat Thonkanya is not joining 2-times S-league
champions Tampines Rovers.
S-league website has reported
Ex-Home United forward Qiu Li has been signed by Tampines Rovers for the 2008
season.
The
Stags has now filled up their quotas of foreign players with Sutee Suksomkit,
Santi Chaiyaphuak and Sead Muratovic all signed up earlier.
Apart
from Qiu, the RHB Singapore Cup finalists have also acquired the services of
Imran Sahib, who has left Woodlands Wellington after one season, and SAFFC centreback Razif Mahamud, out of favour at the double
winners.
Today report
The
right-back had earlier in the week decided to postpone a career as a Prisons
officer to rejoin Radojko Avramovic’s team for the World Cup Qualifiers.
Gombak
finished fourth in the S-League last year and chairman John Yap is delighted
with his latest signing for 2008.
Said
Yap: “He’s a good signing. We are glad to be able to secure a player of his
calibre. I'm sure he’ll add stability and strength
to our team.”
Lionel will be at having trials with
Grasshoppers
S-league website has
reported
The
Swiss Super League is currently in the middle of its winter break and will
resume on 2 February.
Lewis,
25, will link up with the National Team in
"The
"It’s
every footballer’s dream to be given such an opportunity and I will definitely
do my best when I’m over there. I will like to thank Lt-Gen (Ret) Ng for
arranging the
Geylang United signed 2 Brazilians
and eyeing 2 Slovak
players
Geylang
United head coach Jozef Herel has signed his first 2 foreign recruits and both
are Brazilians.
Little
is known yet but one is forward, as mentioned before, and
his name is Rivaldo while the other is an
attacking midfielder who is known as Junior.
The club are also eyeing another 2 more foreigners from
It is
hoped both will be signed up before the season began, which is starting in 5 weeks
time, so as to familiarize them with the team and the surrounding.
Goalkeepers
Kang Su-ho (Jeju United)
Han Dong-suk
Defenders
Ju Ki-hwan (Goyang Kookmin Bank)
Park Moon-ki (Chunam Dragons)
Kim Sang Eun
Hyun Ho Shin
Joo Ki Hwan
Kim Sang-woon (
Midfielders
Lim Dae-keun (Yewon University)
Kim Tae-young (Yewon University)
Woo Ja-rang
Shin Young-chul (Soongsil University)
Seo Su-jong (Yewon University)
Kim Dong-hoon (Aju University)
Jung Kwon-ho (Woosuk University)
Kim Jae-hong (Daegu FC)
U Ja Rang
Lim Dae Geun
Jeong Byung Euk
Jung Young-choon (Seonam University)
Kim Sung-bae (Seosan Omega)
Forwards
Yoon Bo-young (Goyang Kookmin Bank)
Moon Soon-ho (Incheon Korail)
Jeon Byung-wook (
Choi Young-min (Incheon Korail)
Kang Dong-joon (Daejeon HNP)
Jeon Kyeong Joon (DPMM
Oh Tok-i (
Slovakians sign for
Geylang United
Both
rumored Slovakian players ‘eyed’ by Geylang United coach Jozef Herel have
signed for the club for 2008.
They
are Rastilav Belicak who is a forward and Miroslav Latiak who is a defensive midfielder and
both have played in Malaysia previously where Jozef Herel has been based,
before coming to Geylang United, thus he believed they are of decent quality.
With
the 2 Slovak inclusion, the Eagles have filled up their 4 foreign slots for the
season and also completed their recruitment of the local players.
Albirex Niigata (S)
signed on 4 players from 2007 squad
4
players from Albirex Niigata (S) has been retained by the White Swans for the
2008 season.
They
are keeper Norio Takahashi, defender Takatoshi Uchida and forwards Akira Takase and Keisuke Ogawa.
At the
same time, the White Swans will also be welcoming 2 high school players to the
team.
They
are midfielder Saito Nomura from
Defender
Bah Mamadou has joined Gombak United for the 2008 season.
He is
returning to the club he started his S-league career with back in 2000 and the
Singaporean is not hiding the delight it is giving him.
He was
quoted in FW saying, “Gombak was the first club I played for in the S-league
and I played with them for three years and my heart was always with Gombak.”
Continuing
he added, “The (Gombak United) chairman Mr John Yap have been since he first
brought me to the club and we always chat and I still called him sometimes even
when I wasn’t playing for them.”
“So
when he asked me to join, I was pleased to be able to join back with him
again.”
Bulls looking at yet another African
to join them
The
With
the departure of Gabriel Obatola to the Young Lions under
the Foreign Talent Scheme (FTS), the Bulls has freed up 1 foreign slot and they
have decided not to promote either of their foreign Prime League player, Emmanuel
Emuejeraye or Paris Dimie Zidougha, it
mean the Jurong-based club will be recruiting from outside.
And
with chairman John Yap so impressive with the African recruits he has on his
books, he is once again set to look towards the
This,
if it happens, will increase the Bulls already impressive African contingent to
7 players, counting the 2 African Singaporean – Bah Mamadou and Precious
Emuejeraye – while not including Agu Casmir who has not signed yet.
Sivaji: Lewis’s fate will be known by
January end
In an
interview with the S-league
website, Home United coach P N Sivaji admitted the fate of Singapore
custodian Lionel Lewis, who is currently attending
trials in Switzerland with Grasshoppers, will be known by the third week of
this month.
If Lewis does clinch a move, Home United will not denied him that
golden chance to prove himself in Europe and will use 1 of the foreign slot to
recruit a foreign keeper to replace Lewis as the rest of the nation best
keepers, after Lionel Lewis, are already on
the books of the other S-league clubs.
Tampines
Rovers has ex-international Rezal Hassan and Under-23 Hassan Sunny while SAFFC
is keeping Shahril Jantan and the Young Lions is keeping Under-23 reserve
Jasper Chan.
He also
reveals another spare foreign slot will be used up to get a defensive partner
for Subramani to strengthen the Home United backline for the S-league and Asian
campaign.
All Chinese forward line at Young
Lions?
There
have been talks that Balestier Khalsa Prime league forward Andrew Tan has been
called up by the Young Lions for the 2008 season.
It
could mean the Young Lions could end up with an all Chinese forward line next
season and maybe even the next SEA Games in 2009 as ex-Home United forward Goh
SWee Swee is already with the Young Lions.
Andrew
Tan had a decent season with the Tigers in 2007 as he notched up 3 S-league
goals in 7 appearances, of which 4 are as substitutes, in his debut season but for the 20-year-old forward to
be a regular upfront for the Young Lions would still mean he has to improve
himself a few notches higher as he is still a work in process.
This
would also be the case for Goh Swee Swee as he along with Andrew Tan, if the
Balestier Khalsa player is called up, compete to be a starter at Young Lions
alongside Nigerian Gabriel Obatola who would be a sure bet as starter at this
point.
Hiroyuki Yamamoto at trial with
Sengkang Punggol
Ex-Albirex
Niigata (S) defender Hiroyuki Yamamoto is on trial with Sengkang Punggol with an
eye to joining the club.
The
defender, who was with Albirex Niigata (S) from 2005 until 2006 and scored a
total of 7 goals in the league, had earlier had a trial at 6-times Champions
Warriors but was reportedly rejected by them.
But as
the defender is determined to get a club in the Republic, he has now gone on
trial with the Dolphins and the signs are good the Hougang team would be
interested in the defender as they build for 2008.
Sead Muratovic on the way out?
Tampines
Rovers Serbian defender Sead Muratovic could be well on the way out of a job as
the 28-year-old once again failed the Beep Test and rumors of a foreigner currently
on trial at the Tampines Stadium.
It is
looking like a repeat of last year, and the year before, fracas when Sead
Muratovic repeatedly failed his Beep Test and missed the start of the season
but last year was especially bad as the defender took until the start of May
and 2 months into the S-league season to meet the required mark.
The
defender saw his wages cut by 20% during his absence but the image of
footballers in the local league as unfit was a terrible stain and it seem the
player has still yet to learn his lesson with him unwilling to keep himself
conditioned during the off season.
Passing
of the Beep Test is a requirement before players are allowed to play in the
league and this year passing mark is 12:12, up from last year 12:10.
Home United complete their foreign
signings
S-league website has announce
Home United has finish signing their foreign players by capturing Thai striker Kornprom Jaroonpong and
Cameroon defender Valery Hiek.
Valery Hiek has an impressive resume having
played in
The signing of Jaroonpong, on the other hand
though, can be seen as a gamble of sorts as Jaroonpong, 20, is a Thai youth
international and played in the amateur rank for
Singapore international midfielder
Tengku Mushadad has also join the Protectors from the Young Lions and the
24-year old combative midfielder, who
was a member of last year’s SEA Games bronze-winning national under-23 team,
will likely fill up the vacuum created by the
departure of influential anchor man Diakite Bangaly.
Fadzuhasny Juraimi joined Woodlands
In the end, it was meant to be as
striker Fadzuhasny Juraimi depart Bedok and joined Woodlands
The 28-year-old forward has left Geylang
United after just 1 season at the club where he had a disappointing time making
22 appearances and had only 3 goals to show for it.
He is
certainly hoping to find better form up north and in a friendly match played
against NFL side
“It’s good to score for your new club anytime,” said Fadzu.
“You
can say I haven’t had a great time in the last couple of years.
“I had
quite a lot of injuries last year, especially, in the early and middle parts of
the season. Hopefully I’ve had enough of that now.
“I’m
feeling a better start already to this season, but I want to take things
slowly. With a steady start, there’s a good chance things will go quite well.
“Having
worked with the boys here for a few weeks, I think I can combine well with
Laakkad, Aki and the other players. Hopefully I can get lucky with the goals
this year.”
Sengkang
Punggol signs Hiroyuki Yamamoto
Talks
are suggesting Sengkang Punggol has signed Japanese defender Hiroyuki Yamamoto as the Dolphins start to put the
finishing touches on their extensive squad overhaul.
Yamamoto
first featured in the S-League in 2005, when he linked up with then-Albirex
Niigata (S)skipper Kenji Arai in one of the strongest central defensive
partnerships to be seen that term.
A calm
and composed figure known for his big hair as much as for his all-round
ability, Yamamoto also had an eye for goals, scoring seven in his two years for
the White Swans.
His decision
to join Sengkang Punggol come after a year with Japanese regional side Valiente
Toyama and sees him join a growing club of Albirex Niigata (S) alumni in
Delights
in Japanese camp as Hiroyuki Yamamoto make S-league his home
Albirex
Niigata (S) vice-chairman Bogdan Brasoveanu was pleased to hear of Sengkang
Punggol decision to sign Yamamoto, after he revealed that the player had in
fact informed him of his intentions.
“Hiro
contacted me back in December, and he told me he wanted to come back here and
play for an S-League club,” said the Romanian.
“He is
a good stopper, he had scored some goals too, and he is always welcome to come
back and play in
“This
is good for the league and good for us. It has always been our objective to
produce players for the
Also
equally delighted was Woodlands
“If he
has a good time here, more Japanese players will want to come. I think he will
do well, he is a very similar defender to Kenji at SAFFC, and he can lead in
the game.
“It will also be good for those of us already here like Kenji and
Nori, because we all meet up once every two weeks or so to have lunch together.
This year, together with Masahiro (Fukasawa), he can join us and make it a
bigger lunch crowd!”
Dolphins
complete their foreign quartet
Apart
from Japanese defender Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Sengkang
Punggol have also offered playing contracts to Chilean duo Luis Eduardo Hicks
and Ivan Cesar Asenjog, as well as Croatian defensive midfielder Zdravko Simic.
Left-back
Hicks joins the Dolphins from Indonesian side PSMS
Saswa
explained the delay in the signing of foreign players was due to his desire to
assemble a squad that he could keep together for a long time, in a clean break
with the club’s chop-and-change past where overseas players were concerned.
“We
wanted to be very careful with our foreigners this time, and make sure they can
commit with us for at least two or three years,” he stressed.
“That’s
why we took longer to settle on our choices, as team building and continuity
are very important to us. Another factor is their experience in the region; two
have played in
“They are all skilful players who will add flair to our team, and
although two of them are about 30 years old, all of them have very high fitness
levels. They will be very good guides for our younger players.”
1 Ridzuan Fatah Hasan
2 Farhan Farook (Sengkang Punggol)
3 Indra Sahdan
4 Juma'at Jantan
5 S. Subramani (Captain)
6 Shahril Alias
7 Shi Jia Yi
8 Kamarulariffin Karim
9 Kornprom Jaroonpong (Bangkok’s
Assumption College)
10 Kengne Ludovick
11 Syed Fadhil (Geylang United)
12 Syaqir Sulaiman (Home United Prime League)
13 Valery Hiek (Fovu de Baham (Cameroon Div 1))
14 Rosman Sulaiman
15 Tengku Mushadad (Young Lions)
16 Harun Juma'at
17 Shahril Ishak
18 Lionel Lewis
19 Fazli Jaffar (Gombak United)
20 Peres De Oliveira (Tampines Rovers)
1 Amos Boon (Sengkang Punggol)
2 Noh Rahman
3 Belicak Rastislav (MFK Zemplin Michalovce (Slovak League))
4 Shah Hirul (Geylang United Prime League)
5 Aide Iskandar (Captain)
6 Baihakki Khaizan (Young Lions)
7 Farizal Basri (Balestier Khalsa)
8 Noor Ali (SAFFC)
9 Latiak Miroslav (MFK Ruzomberok (Slovak League))
10 Carlos Junior (Nanchang Bayi Hengyuan (Chinese League Div 1))
11 Syed Thaha
12 Faizal Senin (Gombak United)
13 Jonathan Xu Wei Hua
14 Fazrul Narwaz (Young Lions)
15 Fabian Tan Wei Ming (Young Lions)
16 Masrezwan Masturi (SAFFC)
17 Hafiz Rahim
18 Lau Meng Meng
19 Fajar Sarib
20 Rivaldo Costa (Esporte Clube Tupy (Brazil League))
Khariul Amri can only
move in July
FW has
reported the Young Lions has retained the service of striker Khariul Amri for
another half the season as the player’s national service run until June.
This
sit nicely with the S-league mid-season transfer window which will open from
June 30 until July 25.
And
obviously Cubs coach Sundrammoorthy is delighted about retaining the forward as
he was quoted, “He will be a key player for us next season.
“His
presence being there will give a massive boost for the youngsters and he will
be there to guide the young team along”
Bulls ‘looking’ to sign Nigerian
midfielder
SPH
Chinese Paper Lian He Zhao Bao has reported a Nigerian midfielder is currently
on trial at Gombak United.
The
Bulls Club chairman John Yap believed if everything goes well at the trial and
the player impressed the coaching staff and management, he can be expected to
sign with the Bulls within the next two weeks.
But it
was not the only delighted news the Bulls received as S-league has implemented
new rule this year concerning foreign Prime League players.
They
can now played in the S-league as long as 1 of the 4 foreigners are not on the
pitch maintaining the 4 foreigners rule and the Bulls has Nigerian players
Paris Dimie Zidougha and Emmanuel Emuejeraye in their Prime League squad.
The
quotas of Prime League foreign players remain at two and they must be Under-21.
John Yap: Agu yet to sign on the
dotted line
Gombak
United has come out to admit an uncomfortable truth which is national striker
Agu Casmir has yet to sign on the dotted line with the club.
The
forward, who is latest addition on the S-league 100 goals list, has been linked
with Tampines Rovers since the Eastern club lost both it main strikers Noh Alam
Shah and Mirko Grabovac.
However
club chairman John Yap is confident Agu Casmir will sign on the dotted line
with the Bulls when he returned from international duty.
The 23
year-old is currently in West Asia with the
Tampines
could move for Pipat in June
Tampines Delay Pipat Move To June – that the headline S-league website has on the latest
development of Thai striker Pipat Thonkanya joining the 2-times S-league
Champions, Tampines Rovers.
Tampines
Rovers team manager Syed Faruk revealed to the S-league website that the club
has come to an in-principle agreement with BEC Tero to take Pipat on loan, once
there is room for the player to be included.
This is
however not expected to happen before the start of the S-League season on 18
February, but the Stags, who remain in need of attacking firepower, appear
happy to wait.
“Pipat
cannot come as of now, because Qiu Li is holding the fourth foreigner’s spot,”
said Faruk.
“The problem
is that we couldn’t wait when BEC Tero had a small problem that affected
Pipat’s transfer. After we signed Qiu Li, they suddenly came back and said that
the problem has been resolved.
“So now
we can bring Pipat over when we want to and we are ready to. It is however
subject to a loan fee, because we had agreed on a loan deal that will run for
two years.
“Since
we’ve signed Qiu Li, it means we have to wait, probably until the transfer
window opens. But Pipat won’t be without a club; he’s still with BEC Tero as
far as I know.”
Syed Faruk: Sead was sick
Tampines
Rovers has rejected rumors circulating about their Serbian anchorman Sead
Muratovic.
The
28-year-old has once again failed his Beep Test leading to rumors he was on his
way out as the club has foreign players on trials at the club.
Stags
team manager Syed Faruk defend Sead for his failure to pass the Beep Test for
the third year running stating: “Sead have been down with viral fever for the
past two weeks.
“The doctor had suspected dengue. The
blood test eventually showed it wasn’t dengue, but Sead could not train at all
because of the sickness. He only started training again yesterday, so it will
be another two weeks before he can take the test, which we need to arrange for
after the trip.
Tampines Rovers are travelling to
Bangkok, Thailand for their upcoming preseason, where they are slated to play
five friendly matches against various Bangkok-based teams.
Sengkang Punggol: We are spending
$840000 on salaries
Regular
S-League Wooden Spoon contender Sengkang Punggol is confident of a good 2008
season as the Dolphins undergoing a massive shake-up, both on and off the
pitch.
They
are currently in the advanced stages of negotiations and are expected to
announce their main sponsor within the next two weeks.
Based
on the deal with the new sponsors, Sengkang revealed their budget for the
upcoming season is their highest ever at $40000 monthly and they have already
recruited a squad of 18 players.
Enter
S-League highest ever goalscorer Mirko Grabovac, four new fireigners and a host
of established S-League players such as Ratna Suffian, Adi Salleh, Razali
Johari and Ali Imran Lomri as well as the retaining of promising players like Firdaus Salleh and Haris Sumri.
And it
has lead to club chairman David Rowe being quoted in the TODAY Paper that the
current squad is the strongest ever, “With no disrespect to our previous
squads, this is the strongest outfit we've had in the last few
years."
1 GK
Adi Salleh (Gombak United)
2 DF Winston Yap
3 DF Azli Yusof (Tampines Rovers Prime League)
4 FW Mirko Grabovac (Tampines Rovers)
6 DF Mahmod Hashim
7 FW Suriyandi Naib
8 MF Razali Johari (Geylang United)
9 MF Haris Sumri
10 MF Zdravko Simic (Sabah (Malaysian
Premier League))
11 MF Firdaus Salleh
12 GK Joey Sim (Home United Prime League)
13 DF Ratna Suffian (Balestier Khalsa)
15 FW Ivan Cesar Asenjo (Johor Pasir
Gudang (Malaysian Premier League))
16 DF Hiroyuki Yamamoto (Valiente
Toyama (Hokushinetsu Regional
League))
17 DF Ali Imran (Woodlands Wellington)
18 GK Hafez Mawasi (Free agent)
19 MF Sobrie Mazelan (Sengakng Punggol Prime League)
20 DF Luis Eduardo Hicks (PSMS Medan
(Liga Indonesia))
1 GK Rezal
Hassan
2 DF Shariff Abdul Samat
3 MF Ridhuan Muhammad
4 DF Satria Mad
5 MF Ibrahim Noh
6 DF Sead Muratovic
7 DF Razif Mahamud (SAFFC)
8 DF Yusiskandar Yusop (Young Lions)
9 FW Ahmed Fahmie (Tampines Rovers Prime League)
10 FW Qiu Li (Home United)
11 MF Imran Shahib (Woodlands Wellington)
12 DF Zulkarnaen Zainal
13 GK Alimin Mohamed (Tampines
Rovers Prime league)
14 MF Sutee Suksomkit
15 MF Shahdan Sulaiman
16 MF Santi Chaiyaphuak
17 MF Mustafic Fahrudin
18 GK Hassan Sunny (Geylang United)
19 FW Aliff Shafaein
20 MF Rafi Ali
Young
Lions ‘set’ to sign a Japanese from the J-league
Rumors are circulating the Young Lions has secured the services of
White Swans defender Shogo Yoshizawa for the 2008 season.
Shogo Yoshizawa was with the White Swans J-league team last year
but has been released by the White Swans for this year campaign.
He played for the White Swans in the S-league back in 2006;
scoring 4 goals and impressing well enough to be promoted to the first team for
2007.
Ex-international Ahmad Latriff has been
spotted in Choa Chu Kang in trials conducted by the Champions as the midfielder
looked set to make a return to the S-league, less than 4 months after departing
across the Causeway to join PDRM in Selangor.
It seem the midfielder has been unable to settle with PDRM in
Selangor as he could not uproot his family to move there and with the Selangor
club struggling in the bottom half of the MSL and seeking to reinforce
themselves with reports indicating Liga Indonesia Persik player Budi Sudarsono
is already on the verge of joining PDRM; both sides were willing to end the
relationship.
Should the 28-year-old be successful in his trials with the
Warriors and convinced head coach Richard Bok to take a chance with his
discipline problems legendary, Ahmad Latiff will be joining the Champions for
the third time in his career having played for them from 1999 until 2000 and
2002 until 2003.
Indra
off to MLS - 6 months late
It has
taken a while, up to 6 months in fact, but
The
Home United striker has been invited for trials with Major League Soccer (MLS)
club
Indra was
already linked to
Indra’s
agent, Dave Roberts revealed the reason behind the delay to TODAY: “They (
“They
were interested in him a year ago, but couldn’t pursue him as it was too close
to the start of their season.
“Now they’re renewing their interest in him.”
It Obadin Aikhena who heading to the
Young Lions
Whether
it a case of mistaken identify or miscommunication by FW but what is clear is it
is not Gombak United midfielder Gabriel Obatola who is heading to the Young
Lions but Obadin Aikhena.
Earlier
FW broke out with the
news that the Young Lions have recruited Gabriel Obatola under the FTS but now
in an S-league report by the S-league
official website the player going to the Young Lions is Obadin Aikhena
instead.
1 GK Fadhil Salim (Woodlands Wellington)
2 DF Faizal Hamid (SAFFC)
3 DF Jaslee Hatta
4 DF Sevki Sha'ban
5 MF Ruhaizad Ismail
6 DF Bah Mamadou (Woodlands Wellington)
8 MF Jalal
10 MF Theerawesin Seehawong
11 MF Ridhwan Jamalhudin (Young Lions)
14 GK Azhiim Kassim
15 MF Shafuan Sutohmoh
16 DF Precious Emuejeraye
17 FW Emmanuel Emuejeraye (Gombak United Prime League)
18 GK Razif Yahya
19 FW Kingsley Njoku
20 FW Gabriel Obatola
Warriors
and ex-Protectors Aidil Sharin retires
SAFFC
and former Home United defender cum midfielder Aidil Sharin has retires from
competitive football for medical reasons according to Warriors coach Richard
Bok.
In a
press conference to announce the Warriors 2008 squad, Warriors coach Richard
Bok spoke out on why Aidil Sharin was not in the squad as he revealed the
player has chosen to retire as he failed to recover from a persistent injury.
Aidil
Sharin rose to prominence in Steve Darby time at Home
United.
In a
squad full of superstars at the start of 2003, Aidil Sharin managed to force
himself into the squad with decent performances and even won a regular place in
the starting lineup becoming one of the
player first on the list from 2005 season onwards either at the back or as the
‘water carrier’ in front of it
He did
so well that that National coach Raddy gave him a start in 2005 against
He
moved to SAFFC at the start of the 2007 season as Home United underwent a major
revamp under then head coach Vincent Subramaniam.
Now at
the age of just 30, he had to hang up his boots as he failed to overcome his
injury.
1 GK Toh Guo'an
2 DF Shaiful Esah
3 DF Kenji Arai
4 DF Hafiz Osman
5 DF Fazial Aziz
7 MF Masahiro Fukasawa (Bangkok University (Thai Premier League))
8 MF Therdsak Chaiman
9 FW Aleksandar Duric
10 MF John Wilkinson
11 FW Norikazu Murakami
12 MF Jamil Ali
13 DF Razaleigh Khalik (Geylang United)
14 GK Shahril Jantan
16 DF Daniel Bennett
18 FW Ashrin Shariff
19 MF Mustaqim Manzur
20 MF Syed Karim (Gombak United)
2008 Woodlands
1 GK Yazid Yasin
2 DF Azlan Alipah
3 DF Azmi Mahamud
4 MF Kamal Nasir Haja
5 DF Lucian Dronca
6 FW Fadzuhasny Juraimi (Geylang United)
7 DF Jerry Bartholomeusz
8 FW Abdelhadi Laakkad
9 MF Akihiro Nakamura
10 MF Hasrin Jailani
11 MF Ismadi Mukthar
12 DF Anaz Hadee
13 MF Sazali Salleh
14 MF Shahri Musa (Woodlands Wellington Prime League)
15 MF Syaiful Iskandar (Woodlands Welllington Prime League)
16 MF Park Tae Won
18 DF Zahid Ahmad
19 GK Ahmadulhaq Che Omar (Tampines Rovers)
1 GK Zakaria Bin Normat
2 DF Seto
Haruki (YKK AP (Japan Football League)
3 DF Kaze Teffo Etienne Giscard
4 DF Jufri
Taha (Balestier Khalsa Prime League)
5 DF Mushthafa
Kamal (Geylang United Prime League)
6 DF Abdul
Hamid (Balestier Khalsa Prime League)
7 MF Nawfal
Shahib(Balestier Khalsa Prime League)
8 MF Han
Yiguang (Balestier Khalsa Prime League)
9 MF Anantha
Rajan s/o Gunaseelan (Balestier Khalsa Prime League)
10 FW Bekombo
Ekollo Ntonye Paul (Sengkang Punggol)
11 FW Tan Wee Tat
Andrew(Balestier Khalsa Prime League)
13 DF Lenan
s/o Govindaraju
14 FW Yusri
Bin Waris (Woodlands Wellington)
15 MF Muhamad
Taufiq(Balestier Khalsa Prime League)
17 MF Faizal
Bin Amir (Geylang United Prime League)
18 MF Mba Vitus Onyekachi
19 GK Ang
Bang Heng
Gombak United website ‘announce’ Agu
departure
It should
come as no surprise as
It seem
despite the 2005 incident, when Agu Casmir signed for Persija Jakarta and then
ran off with the US$20000 signing –on– fee which nearly resulted in a FIFA worldwide
ban on him before Woodlands Wellington came to his rescue by repaying Persija
Jakarta that sum, has not deterred
foreign clubs seeking to sign the player.
The
Bulls club website wrote Agu Casmir has attracted the
interest of several regional clubs and he looks set to leave with their
blessing.
Obadin Aikhena only on trial with
Young Lions
It was
a mystery why Nigerian striker Obadin Aikhena has yet to register with Young
Lions almost weeks after transferring to the Young Lions but now all is reveal.
The
Gombak United striker was only on trial with the FAS club and has yet to sign
on the dotted line as the coaching staffs are still wondering whether to offer
him a contract.
As the
transfer window only close next month in mid-March,
the Young Lions are in no rush to make a decision and they have also brought in
an Englishman and Japanese on trial as well.
The Young Lions however have make a decision Chinese forward Yan
Minghao, who played with them last season, and have retained his services.
Young Lions sign Obadin
Aikhena and Danny Hammond
The
Young Lions have signed two new players, both of whom passed the Beep Test this
week.
They
are former Gombak utility player Obadin Gabriel Aikhena and the English
defender Danny Hammond, who played in a number of pre-season trials with his
new team and looks a player of promise.
Both
new men are among the older members of the Young Lions’ squad, with the tall
Hammond coming from a background in Conference football in England and he
appears to be a man likely to fill the shoes left by the departure of Baihakki
Khaizan to Geylang United.
Tampines Rovers released Sead Muratovic and Razif Mahamud
Sead Muratovic and Razif Mahamud have been
released by Tampines Rovers as both failed to pass the Final Beep Test before the end of
the transfer window.
The
club released a statement that that it make no sense
to keep them on the club payroll as they would not be able to play in the
S-league.
Ex-Tigers utility player Fathi Yunus was then signed by the Stags
before the window closed.