Stewart Soldiers On Amid Club Turmoil

Lions fullback persisting with European dream, despite Riteriai's financial woes

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Ryhan Stewart had always dreamt of playing professionally in Europe and just as he celebrated accomplishing that goal after making his bow for Lithuanian top-flight side FK Riteriai in April, the Singaporean footballer witnessed the tumultuous nature of the sport.

Days after his debut for the club, with whom he signed a two-year contract, media reports emerged that Riteriai were in financial turmoil. Suddenly, Stewart's career looked to be in limbo.

Singapore-based sports marketing and player development firm Red Card Global, which had entered into an agreement to acquire Riteriai on Jan 20, pulled out of the deal and said it would be initiating legal action against the sellers for "misrepresentation, breach of agreement and the unauthorised use of funds committed in good faith".

It left the Lithuanian club on the verge of bankruptcy.

"As a footballer, I know this career has its ups and down, there are a lot of highs and a lot of lows. So you can never get carried away. This is the real side of football," said Stewart on June 3, after returning to Singapore for a national team training camp.

Stewart, who has made seven starts and two substitute appearances for Riteriai since his transfer, had the option of leaving the club but the 25-year-old fullback decided to stay on.

Stewart said: "I feel the Lithuanian league is a good place to grow as a footballer. A lot of players come through here and go on to bigger leagues in Europe.