At a former stamping ground where he once scored goals for fun, Mirko Grabovac could only wistfully watch the Warriors FC players train from a distance at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium yesterday evening.
It has been almost a month since the five-time S-League top scorer arrived in Singapore on Jan 12 to take up his appointment as head coach of the club he represented from 1999 to 2003.
However, the 46-year-old Croat does not know if he will be able to stay, because the Warriors have not been able to secure an employment pass for him.
The team's assistant coach, Azlan Alipah, has been taking charge of the Warriors' training sessions.
Grabovac's hopes of securing an employment pass were dealt a blow when national sports agency Sport Singapore did not provide a letter of support for his application.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, a SportSG spokesman said: "Sport Singapore has considered the Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) request for support for Mirko Grabovac's employment pass application.
PENNY FOR HI S THOUGHTS
It has been very frustrating for him to sit on the sidelines and not be able to help or commit to the team.
'' PAUL POH, Warriors FC general manager, speaking on behalf of Mirko Grabovac, who declined to comment on his situation.
"The circumstances did not warrant a special letter of support from us. Grabovac may proceed to apply to the authorities directly based on his merits."
The FAS, however, has given the Warriors the green light after it assessed his coaching credentials and found him suitable to be an S-League coach.
Warriors general manager Paul Poh confirmed this yesterday, and said the club would proceed to apply for Grabovac's employment pass despite the absence of a letter of support from SportSG.
When approached yesterday, Grabovac declined to comment on his situation.
But Poh said: "I think I can speak on his behalf. It has been very frustrating for him to sit on the sidelines and not be able to help or commit to the team."
Grabovac left an indelible mark during his time in Singapore, scoring 244 goals in all competitions for the Warriors and then Tampines Rovers (from 2004 to 2007).
He won the S-League title four times and has three Singapore Cup winner's medals. In 2005, he was named the Player of the Decade for the S-League, which began in 1996.
In 2008, he joined Sengkang Punggol as player-coach, but struggled with the Beep Test - the S-League's mandatory fitness test - at the age of 37, and opted to hang up his boots.
He decided to renounce his Singapore citizenship, which he took up in 2002 under the Foreign Sports Talent scheme, to go back to Croatia to be with his parents, wife and two daughters.
Poh said that the Warriors have "other options" in the event Grabovac is not granted an employment pass, but emphasised that he remains the club's top choice for the coaching post.
"Hopefully, he can contribute something back to Singapore football," said Poh.
