Casmir allowed to play for Gombak

AGU Casmir can play for Gombak United in this season's S-League, starting with today's game against Geylang.

The five-member Players' Status Committee (PSC) decided last night that he could be registered outside the transfer period.

But it reprimanded the 22-year-old striker for being late for the hearing at the Football Association of Singapore.

The committee had sent out letters by fax and post last Friday, informing Casmir and his club of the hearing, which was scheduled for 7.30pm.

Among the recipients were the player, Gombak chairman John Yap and club manager Swee Hin Teck.

But, yesterday, Yap, who arrived punctually, had to telephone Casmir to rush down for the hearing.

The player, who returned from Malaysia yesterday with the national Under-23 team, came at about 9pm.

Swee explained the farcical situation as a 'misunderstanding'.

However, committee chairman Lim Kia Tong said: 'We've made it clear to him our total disappointment and regret that he chose not to be present in the hearing at the beginning.

'His lackadaisical attitude is a far cry from the high standard that the league is going for.'

The other PSC members present were Mohammad Muzammil, Pavan Kumar, Abdul Salim A. Ibrahim and Ronnie Teo.

Casmir had missed the S-League's registration deadline of Feb 5.

He could not sign for another club before the deadline as his contract with Woodlands Wellington expired only at the end of last month.

However, the FAS left the door open for him to appeal, and to explain why he wanted to switch to Gombak instead of carrying on with Woodlands.

In previous seasons, clubs could register players any time until the mid-season.

But a new registration system was adopted by the FAS two months ago, with the next transfer window in July.

'This case, however, is not to be treated as a precedent for other cases,' said Lim, a lawyer.

'Agu also has to enter and fulfil the full terms of his contract with Gombak.'

Casmir's contract with Gombak runs out in December.

Woodlands had bailed the Nigerian-born player out last year, when he had to repay a US$20,000 (S$31,000) sign-on fee he took from Indonesian side Persija Jakarta.

The club also paid his $20,000 fine for indiscipline, imposed by the FAS after he disappeared for five weeks.

Said a relieved Casmir: 'I'm looking forward to the new season with my new club.'