Lilipaly Joins Bali United From Dutch Club SC Cambuur
Jakarta. Dutch-Indonesian professional footballer Stefano Lilipaly has been signed by Bali United from second-tier Dutch club SC Cambuur for an undisclosed fee.
The 27-year-old midfielder was influential in helping the Indonesian national team reach the final of the Asean Football Federation Cup last year, where he featured in almost all the matches during the tournament.
Cambuur technical director Gerald van den Belt revealed on the Dutch club's website that they released Lilipaly for humanitarian reasons.
"We have done everything as a club to keep Stefano here. However, his desire to move to Indonesia with his family was so strong and persistent that we had no choice but look at the human aspect. We wish him the best of luck in Indonesia and we will get started with the technical people to fill his position," van den Belt said.
Lilipaly played 21 times for Cambuur since January, scoring eight goals and six assists. He will be at Bali United for three-and-a-half years.
"It has always been my dream to play in Indonesia and for me the feeling was now or never," Lilipaly said of his move.
Bali United chief executive Yabes Tanuri said during a press conference in Kuta, Bali, on Sunday (13/08) that Lilipaly has been the most expensive player the club has ever acquired, even though he is not the highest-paid footballer at the club owned by Pieter Tanuri, a businessman and an executive committee member of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).
Lilipaly featured as a substitute when Bali United crushed Madura United 5-2 at I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, Bali, on Sunday night.
Bali United currently tops Liga 1 with 35 points after 19 matches, followed by Madura in second place.
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