S-league
2008 Transfer News (June 30 – July 25)
Transfer 2008 (January 2 – March 14)
*
Confirmed transfer ** Expected transfer *** Pending/Unconfirmed transfer
Jung Kwon
Hoon, Lim Dae Geun, Han Dong Seok (Super Reds -> ?) *
Song Long, Wang Xiaolong, Hui Yi and Sheng Jun (
Song Chen and Mu Xiaochen (
Park Ki Wook (Jegu United (K-league) -> Super Reds) *
Walid Lounis (Free Agent -> Home United) *
Ram Shanker (Home United Prime League -> Home United) *
Fazli Jaffar (Home United -> ?) *
Dickson S-league return with Home
failed
Agu Casmir rejoined Gombak
Toshiaki Kato (Free Agent -> Sengkang Punggol Prime League) *
Reginaldo
Estevao (Perseman Manokwari (Indonesia Liga) -> Sengkang Punggol) *
Ivan Cesar Asenjo (Sengkang Punggol -> ?) *
Edward Tan (Tampines Rovers -> Tampines Rovers Prime League) *
Tampines Rovers register their
third foreigner
Agu Casmir short career in the
MSL
Fadhil Noh (Home United Prime League -> Young Lions) *
Fairoz Hasan (Sengkang Punggol Prime League -> Young Lions) *
Tigers forward Andrew Tan off to
NS
Eagles coach admit his players
are not good enough
Choi Young Min (Super Reds -> ?) *
Kaze Teffo Giscard (Balestier Khalsa -> Balestier Khalsa Prime League)
*
Saruta Hironori (YKK AP (JFL) -> Balestier Khalsa) *
F Ryota Kobayashi (Thespa Kusatsu (J2) ->
Albirex Niigata (S)) *
Ahmad Latiff (Free agent -> SAFFC) *
Yoshihiro Tomoyama (Albirex Niigata (S) -> ?) *
Yoshitaka Komori (FC Kyoto (J1) -> Albirex Niigata (S)) *
Lionel to join Indonesia Super
Liga?
PSM Makassar reject Dickson?
Khairul depart for Tampines
End of the road for Dickson at
Persitara
'Greedy' Dickson could be kicked
out of Persitara
Malaysian Police 'captured' Agu
Yao Minghao (Young Lions -> ?) ***
Tampines Rovers to go with 2
foreigners for the rest of the season
Tampines Rovers: Pipat deal is
died
League Cup Champions: We are not
entering the market
Lu Peng and Li Zhichao (Dalian Shide (S-league) -> Dalian Shide (CSL)) *
Sivaji: End of our transfer
activities
Noh Alam Shah not rejoining
Tampines Rovers
Tampines win race for Khairul
Sead Muratovic (Free agent -> Tampines Rovers) ***
Tampines
Rovers chairman Teo Hock Seng has revealed to the TODAY paper he has reached an
in principle agreement Khairul Amri.
At just
23 years of age, the speedy Singapore attacker is one of the hottest properties
in local football and it was no surprise when giants Home United and Tampines
Rovers both expressed their interest in signing him, after Khairul declared in
February that he would be leaving the Young Lions when the transfer window
opens on June 30.
Now it
look like the Eastern giants have pipped Home to the finish line.
When
contacted by TODAY, Tampines chairman Teo Hock Seng said: “Khairul has agreed,
in principle, to join us.
“We’re
just getting the paperwork ready for him to put pen to paper.”
Khairul
is currently away in Beirut with the Lions, who finish off their World Cup
qualifying campaign with a match against
When
contacted, he did not want to talk about his decision. Said the 23-yearold:
“Right now, I’m just fully focused on the match against
Noh Alam
Shah not rejoining Tampines Rovers
Tampines
Rovers could have reinforcements queuing up to join them in the June transfer window
as former central defender Sead Muratovic, who failed the S-League’s mandatory
Beep Test repeatedly earlier in the season and returned to his native Serbia
after being dropped, is now reportedly looking to win back his place in the
team.
“Although
nothing is confirmed yet, we have news that Muratovic is coming back,” said
Teo.
“But he
will only be offered a contract if he passes the mandatory Beep Test.”
However
it was not all good news as striker Noh Alam Shah who will be finishing his ban
on July 9, but he will not be rejoining the Stags.
The
Teo
explained: “Alam Shah will first fulfil his obligations with PDRM as he has
signed a contract with them, and he will re-join us once the contract has been
fulfilled. We don’t want to push the issue any further.”
Sivaji:
End of our transfer activities
As
reports filter in that
“He has
chosen and that is a fact, so we’ll just have to accept it and get on with the
season,” said Sivaji.
“It’s
not possible for us to bring in other attacking players, because I don’t think
clubs would be willing to release their better players at this point.”
The
reason behind Sivaji not being too gutted at losing the striker to Tampines
Rovers is he believed his team is good enough to challenge for the
championship.
“We’ve
got good individuals and putting that together with the amazing group dynamics that
we’ve got in the squad and the good management-player relationship, we feel
that we can do well,” he said.
The
last time Home United got their hands on a trophy was in 2005, when they won
the
“It has
been a while since we won our last trophy, but the feeling is that we will win
something this year,” Sivaji said. “The other teams have an equal chance, but
with all humility, if we have no disruptions or major injury crises we should
win something.”
League Cup
Champions: We are not entering the market
Avaya-J&J
League Cup Champions Gombak United has announced they will not be entering the
transfer window in June even as they chased for a fourth spot in the S-league.
According
to Bulls chairman, John Yap: “At this stage we don’t plan to make any changes
to our squad. The transfer window is opening soon and we won’t ignore it; but
it’s unlikely we will dip into the market with the team looking so solid now
after a slow start to the season.
“The
win over the Super Reds (in the Avaya-J&J League Cup Final) was certainly a
“It has
instilled further confidence in the side and the boys are raring to go. The
return of the national team players has given everyone at the club even more
reason to feel good about finishing the season well.”
Tampines Rovers: Pipat deal is died
Tampines
Rovers deal with side BEC Tero Sasana over Thai striker Pipat Thonkanya in a
two-year loan deal is died.
The
revelation by the club officials comes just days before the opening of the
mid-season transfer window which has already seem the club captured Singapore
forward Khariul Amri.
The
Thai league leaders have cashed in on one of their star assets by letting him
move to domestic rivals Provincial Electric Authority instead, where he has
linked up with former S-League players Choketawee Promrut and Rangsan
Vivatchaichok
Tampines Rovers to go with 2
foreigners for the rest of the season
In an
admission to the S-league website, two-time former S.League champions Tampines
could well have just two foreign players listed on their books, namely the Thai
duo of Sutee Suksomkit and Santi Chaiyaphuak until the end of the season after
their recent bids for new signings have fallen through.
China-born
forward Qiu Li, who had been registered as a foreign player at the start of the
season, has since received
That
vacancy was originally expected to be filled by Pipat Thonkanya, who was
supposed to join the Stags from Thai powerhouse side BEC Tero Sasana in a
two-year loan deal.
But the
Thai league leaders have since cashed in on one of their star assets by letting
him move to domestic rivals Provincial Electric Authority instead, where he has
linked up with former S.League players Choketawee Promrut and Rangsan
Vivatchaichok.
Tampines
subsequently tried to land a deal for Danish striker Sammy Youssouf, a tall and
powerful man who plies his trade for Vejle Boldklub.
Talks
with the former St. Johnstone,
“When I
talked to the Danish striker and he heard we could pay him maybe $6,000 or $8,000,
he thought that was (what he’d get) per week,” said Tampines coach Vorawan
Chitavanich of the negotiations.
“Once
he heard it was per month and not per week, he said that’s too little money, so
the move was off. And I have to agree; with that kind of pay, it’s hard to
chase a good player now, not like last time.
“Yes,
maybe we can find foreign players who are willing to play for us for less than
$8,000 a month. But those players are not that much better than the local
players we already have, so why should I sign the guy and waste the money?
“I’d
rather give the place in the team to a good, promising young local boy, and use
the money to help develop him into a better player.”
Team
manager and assistant coach Syed Faruk agreed with the Thai’s assessment,
noting that Singaporean clubs’ buying power has become relatively weaker
compared to other countries in the region.
“We can
only afford foreign players who are at most $8,000; even $10,000 a month is
difficult,” said the former
“And
that’s not taking into account the fact we have to pay for his accommodation in
“When
you look at
Tampines
officials have noted that several foreigners have approached the club for
trials, although none have impressed Vorawan enough to earn a place in the
squad.
That
means national striker Khairul Amri, who was recently reported by the local
papers to have agreed to a move upon the opening of the transfer window, is
likely to be the only new addition to the squad.
Malaysian Police 'captured' Agu
Malaysian
Daily Malay Mail has reported
He will
now now make his debut in the
The
24-year-old should beef up the Police strikeforce as they try to break down
He
could soon be joined by fellow
Police
also have Kenyans Hillary Echesa and Michael Barasa in their line-up.
The
team finished ninth in the Super League after securing 24 points from 24
matches.
'Greedy' Dickson could be kicked out
of Persitara
However
it come with a hefty price tag as rumors have indicated the midfielder has
asked the management to double his salary from last year
As expected
the club has said no to his request and has warned the player they will not be
held to ransom.
18
teams from the East and West Conference will form the
Persitara
Jakarta finished seventh among 18 teams in the Western Conference in
End of the
road for Dickson at Persitara
Persitara
Jakarta Utara have released Itimi Dickson as both club and player failed to
reach an agreement on their future.
The
18
teams from the East and West Conference will form the
Khairul
depart for Tampines
As the
final whistle blow at the end of the Albirex Niigata (S)-Young Lions match,
Cubs striker Khairul Amri, although he did not play, is finally ready and set
to depart the Young Lions and join Tampines Rovers.
It was
reported almost 2 weeks ago by the TODAY paper Tampines Rovers chairman Teo Hock Seng has has
reached an in principle agreement Khairul Amri.
It
meant the Eastern giants pipped Home to the finish line for the forward as both
clubs had expressed interest when it was revealed Amri will leave the Cubs
during the June transfer window.
The
23-year-old forward has played 124 times, 26 times as substitute, for the Young
Lions since his debut at the club in 2004 and has scored 58 times (Not
including the Malaysia FA Cup where he scored another 7 times)
He is
the Young Lions all-time leading top ever scorer with Agu Casmir in second.
PSM
It is rumored
The
player has gone to PSM Makassar for trial as he seeks to remain in
Instead
PSM Makassar has opted for other foreigners and has already filled up their 5
foreigner slots with Ali Khadaffi (
It is unclear
at this moment what is Dickson next move as Persitara Jakarta Utara, Dickson
last club, is also not interested in the midfielder.
Lionel to join
This
has sparked rumors wondering if
The
PSSI refused
to accept Penarol was only sending their second stringers as the game was meant
to launch the opening of the newly form
Eagles
coach admit his players are not good enough
Geylang United coach Jozef Herel has admitted to the S-league website his reconstructed team is not good enough but he will still have to count on the same group of players to improve their position.
The Eagles
have moved past the halfway mark in their campaign this year, which appears set
to end without a trophy for yet another year as they have been
eliminated in the RHB Singapore Cup at the first hurdle for the
fourth consecutive year, and were knocked out in the preliminary round of
the Avaya-J&J League Cup, falling 1-2 to second-from-bottom Balestier Khalsa,
who eventually finished third in the competition.
In the
league, the former aristocrats of Singapore football have disappointed most for
tipped initially by some as dark horses for the title they are now fifth
in the table, 23 points behind league leaders SAFFC.
Their failing is obvious as their foreign signings have failed to spark with the Brazilian attacking duo of Luiz Machado Junior and Rivaldo Costa failing to set the field alight up front, while Rastislav Belicak’s minimalist approach to his defensive role has often forced Miroslav Latiak to pick up the slack on his own.
Herel
himself minced no words as he gave his own assessment of the team’s performance
in recent home defeats to the Super Reds and Home United.
“So far
our team has not been playing well, including the foreigners,” said the Slovak.
“Our
two Brazilians didn’t play well in the last couple of matches, and even Rasto
is not doing too well. Miro is doing alright, I guess, but to have three
foreigners not performing on one day, like they did against the Super Reds, is
not good.
“Even
our key local players like Fazrul and Noor Ali are only having average
performances recently. If I have so many players having only average days,
that’s half the team gone.”
Despite
Herel’s unhappiness with how his players have fared, he revealed that the club
was unlikely to make any changes to his squad during the mid-season transfer
window.
The
thinness of the pool of players up for grabs has made transfers an improbable
option, while the Eagles coach was hesitant about throwing Prime League players
into the deep end before they were ready for the plunge.
“We’ve
been talking about getting some new players, but where can we find them?” he
asked rhetorically.
“The
local market is closed because there’s no one, and if we want to sign new
foreigners, we have a problem because they would also be under contract. I
don’t think we have much of a chance to change.
“We have
some youth players who are good, but they are not ready to play. I can bring
some of them into the team, but against teams like Super Reds or Home, if I
bring them into the game, I will kill them.
“So I
am stuck. But there is still a long way to go, and I will not give up the
fight.”
Tigers
forward Andrew Tan off to NS
Andrew
Tan broke into prominence last season with the Tigers in his debut season as he
notched up 3 S-league goals in 7 appearances, of which 4 are as substitutes, in
his debut season but the 20-year-old forward has a tougher 2008 as he has yet
to register in the league or Cup this season.
The
forward has make a total of 19 appearances in the league and Cup for the Tigers
this season before enlisting for his National Service.
Agu Casmir
short career in the MSL
In a
scene common in Malaysian football, Agu Casmir has found himself without a club
after 3 games as Super League outfit Police also known as PDRM has released the
The
club had 4 foreigners on their book and could only registered 3 of them in the
ongoing
Malaysian
teams like Terrengganu and Penang have also serve the same treatment to their
foreigners this season and in the past Johor, Pahang and Selangor were famous
for giving foreigners their debut and then releasing immediately claiming they
were not good enough or did not fit in the team.
Tampines Rovers register their third
foreigner
The
Stags website have announced Tampines Rovers Prime
League player Attapong Nooprom will be registered in the S-league as their
third foreign player.
The Thai midfielder will swap place with S-League player Edward
Tan.
Attapong, a midfielder who has represented
Today
paper reported
The 24
year-old forward has been involved in a merry-go-round since the beginning of
the season as he refused a new contract from the Bulls and rumors suggest he
seek employment in Indonesia new-formed Super Liga before signing for Malaysian
Super League outfit Police also known as PDRM for the Malaysia Cup.
However
Agu Casmir has found himself without a club after just 3 games as the club had
4 foreigners on their book and could only registered 3 of them in the ongoing
Now he
is back at the starting point in Jurong West where he played 29 times for the
Bulls and scoring 13 times in 2007.
Dickson S-league return with Home
failed
S-league
website has revealed Singapore midfielder Itimi Dickson had try to seek a
return to the S-league via Home United during the mid-season transfer window.
The
midfielder had been playing in the now-defunct
However
any chance of him appearing in a Protectors shirt vanished as the midfielder
failed his Beep test meaning he could not played in the S-league thus Home
United could not sign him.
Still
the Protectors did make a signing in the transfer window as they notch up
25-year-old Singaporean defender Walid Lounis who coach PN Sivaji believed can
deputies for the right fullback position which Rosman Sulaiman and Juma’at
Jantan have been unable to make their own.
Walid
Lounis, who was born in Tunis, capital of Tunisia, has an impressive resume as
he had began playing at the tender age of six and lists Tunisia giant AS Marsa
as one of his former clubs.