April 14, 2004
'Forget about it', that was the message Tanjong Pagar chairman Matthew Kang had for Home United on the request for goalkeeper Ridzuan Fatah Hassan & Ratna Suffian, who is also with Home United because of NS commitments.
He stressed that the Jaguars will not release the duo, as they are needed to bring a certain measure of stability back to the team.
The Jaguars are currently bottom of the S-league & it is hoped with their inclusion, the club will stand a chance to get out of the bottom 3.
However a S-League rule could dent his wishes as Rule F, Part 22 (a) of the S-League Rule Book states that "any player who wishes to break his contract will not be allowed to do so unless he pays his club of between one and three months of his gross salary depending on the length the contract still has to run".
It means that if Ridzuan wants to be released from his contract with Tanjong Pagar United, he will have to pay compensation to the club, based on his last drawn salary, which is $200.
2 years ago, Ridzuan Fatah Hassan was playing for Tanjong Pagar United in the Prime League & the $200 a month was earned as a semi- professional, before he was drafted into the Singapore Civil Defence Force for NS.
As far as the clause is goes, Home United coach Steve Darby felt that there is nothing wrong as it is in the rule book, so it is not a crime.
But for Matthew Kang, he wanted the duo to remember who had groomed them & they should have a little gratitude, especially now that the club needs them badly. He will rather bring the matter up to the Players' Status Committee & have it settled there, but will never released release Ridzuan & Ratna willingly.
For Ridzuan, he is torn between the 2 clubs as he is happy to stay at Home United where he could get good exposure but he understand that Tanjong Pagar United also need me.