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S.League winner Inui joins Thai League side

SINGAPORE — Albirex Niigata (Singapore) midfielder Tatsuro Inui has quit the S.League champions for Thai League (T1) side Thai Honda, marking the start of a possible exodus in Singapore football to their Asean rivals.

Tatsuro Inui spent six years in the S.League and is seeking a new challenge with Thai Honda. TODAY file photo

Tatsuro Inui spent six years in the S.League and is seeking a new challenge with Thai Honda. TODAY file photo

SINGAPORE — Albirex Niigata (Singapore) midfielder Tatsuro Inui has quit the S.League champions for Thai League (T1) side Thai Honda, marking the start of a possible exodus in Singapore football to their Asean rivals.

Inui, who helped Albirex clinch the S.League and Singapore Cup double, agreed on personal terms with his new club, which has just been promoted to the top-flight.

The 26-year-old midfielder, who told Thai media he is seeking a new challenge, spent six years in the S.League with Albirex (2010-2011 and 2016), Warriors (2012-2013), and Geylang International (2015).

Widely regarded as the best professional football league in the region, the T1 enjoys sell-out crowds regularly, with big games attracting more than 25,000 fans.

TODAY understands foreign players in the T1 earn an average of S$10,000 to S$15,000 per month — as compared to the S.League’s average monthly wage of S$5,000.

Inui may not be the only S.League player plying his trade in Thailand next season. Tampines Rovers and Singapore international midfielder Hafiz Abu Sujad left for Thailand earlier this month for a week-long trial with two clubs — T1 side Sisaket FC and second tier’s Big Bang Chula United.

Geylang’s Philippines forward Mark Hartmann was also reportedly the subject of bids from several Thai clubs, but he has since joined Malaysia’s Sarawak.

Thai clubs are in the market for South-east Asian and Asian players after the Thai Football Association announced in September there would be an additional Asean player slot for teams in the second tier league from next year and also in the top-tier from 2018.

The rule will allow clubs to sign three foreign players, an Asian player and another from Asean. The new regulation applies to players from Thailand’s nine Asean neighbours — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

TPL deputy CEO Benjamin Tan, a Singaporean, told TODAY in an earlier interview: “The benefits are multi-fold. We believe that by attracting the regional’s best players into Thai League, this rule will develop football in the country, makes economic and commercial sense, connects regional fans and promote Thai football.”

Singapore’s No 1 goalkeeper Hassan Sunny was the last S.League player to play in the Thai League, turning out for Army United. He has returned to the Singapore after he was released following the club’s relegation from the top flight.

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