SINGAPORE — It looks like Jose Mourinho’s loss is not just Roberto Martinez’s gain, but also Kong Kian Haw’s.

Mourinho’s surprise decision to send burly 1.91-metre tall striker Romelu Lukaku to Everton on a season-long loan increasingly looks like a poorly-judged move as the Belgian has been banging in the goals for the Toffees in the English Premier League.

Since his move to Goodison Park on the final day of the summer transfer window, the 20-year-old striker has scored four goals. And it was his brace in Everton’s 3-2 win over Newcastle on the last day of September that helped Kong become the TODAY Fantasy League’s (TFL) Manager of the Month for September.

“I was impressed with Lukaku when he was on loan at West Brom last season,” said the 30-year-old Arsenal fan, referring to the 17 goals that Lukaku scored in 35 games for the Baggies. “That was why I bought him this year. Before the Newcastle game, I had a hunch he would score. So I also made him my captain.”

Team captains get double the points for goals scored and assists made, and Lukaku earned 24 points for that game by scoring twice and creating a goal for Ross Barkley.

And that helped Kong to score big too. His team — Artician — was lying in 13th spot in the TFL standings before the game. By the end of it, Artician shot to the top of the table with 146 points to snag the US$500 prize for their owner. The award, which is Kong’s first TFL prize, also vindicated his decision to become “more obsessed” with the game.

“I also played last year but I didn’t do that well. I don’t even remember how I finished overall,” said Kong, who works in his family’s food processing business. “This season, I decided to spend more time doing research on the players each week.”

He estimates that he spends three hours each week doing his “homework” for his team. “You really need to research the statistics on player injuries and transfers,” he said. “But also you need to listen to your gut and be brave enough to follow it.”

Although he has Lukaku to thank for his reward, Kong thinks Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil will play a big part in his team’s fortunes this season.

“Every season, there are players that are season keepers. For me this season, it is Ozil,” he said. “He has been doing very well lately and I have high hopes for him.”

It looks like Kong’s buddies from his regular Sunday futsal kickabouts will also benefit from his winnings. He said: “Our ball is getting worn out, so I plan to buy a new one for the team.”

Kong Kian Haw’s First Xi

Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Leighton Baines (Everton), Michu (Swansea),

Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Oliver Giroud (Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Romelu Lukaku (Everton onloan from Chelsea)

TOP 10 (September)

1 [Artician] 146

2 YNWA Kopites 144

3 Dynamix 140

4 ROCKAFELLAS 138

5 MoonmeN 137

6 Current Top Player 134

7 Dam United 134

8 Philipkun 133

9 Lokitaly 133

10 Thommans Devils 132