Stars from Singapore move to ISL

When the Indonesian Super League decided to adopt the Asian Football Confederation’s “3 plus 2” rule, players from Singapore’s S-League couldn’t jump ship fast enough.

And ISL teams, looking to fill three unrestricted roster places for foreigners and two spots for players from AFC member nations, are doing everything they can to accommodate S-League talent.

The Jakarta Globe reports, the latest Singaporean star to sign with an ISL club is Singapore Armed Forces FC striker Aleksandar Duric (picture, above), also a member of Singapore’s national team.

Reports that the 39-year-old would travel to Palembang, South Sumatra, on Thursday to join Sriwijaya FC were confirmed by the club on Monday.

“We have reached a deal for a one-year contract and Duric will sign the papers in Palembang on Thursday,” said Sriwijaya vice president Hendri Zainuddin. “But he will join us in November after the S-League ends and his contract with SAF expires.”

Yugoslavian-born Duric began his professional career in 1992 with Sloga Pozega and played for 15 clubs, including several in Australia, China and Singapore, before joining Singapore Armed Forces FC in 2005.

He earned Singaporean citizenship in 2006 and made his debut for the national team in 2007.

Duric was the S-League’s 2008 Player of the Year and also its top scorer with 24 goals. He tops the league’s scoring chart for this season with 26 goals, helping SAFFC to lead the standings.

In Sriwijaya he will join compatriot Precious Emuejeraye, a defender. Hendri said that negotiations with Duric and his agent, Rici Nelson, had gone smoothly.

Hendri refused to reveal the exact amount of the deal, but a source close to the club said the striker would earn Rp 1.1 billion ($113,000) for a yearlong contract, plus accommodation and transportation allowances.

Duric’s move is only part of the ongoing influx of players from Singapore to Indonesia.

In the last month, Geylang United’s Baihakki Khaizan and Mustafic Fahrudin of Tampines Rovers have joined Persija Jakarta, while Arema Malang snapped up Tampines duo Noh Alam Shah and Ridhuan Muhamad.

And another ISL club, PSM Makassar, is reportedly trying to sign Sengkang Punggol and Singapore national team striker Indra Sahdan Daud.

Duric’s arrival will end Sriwijaya coach Rahmad Darmawan’s search for foreign players as the club has now used up its quota. Besides Duric and Emuejeraye, the Copa Indonesia champion has two other imports, striker Keith Kayamba Gumbs (St. Kitt & Nevis) and midfielder Zah Rahan (Liberia). And the club is still waiting for the arrival of Nigerian midfielder Richard Anoure Obiora, who has agreed to extend his contract with Sriwijaya.

“Obiora will be here as soon as the administrative requirements, including the Kitas [temporary residence permit] and ITC [international transfer certificate], are complete,” coach Rahmad said.
The ISL is scheduled to start its new season on Oct. 11.