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Bok wants SAFFC to channel continental energy
Sham Majid
info@sleague.com
After playing to the tune of “Asian nights” over the past week in their bid to rub shoulders with the creme de la creme of Asian football, SAFFC’s footballing journey sees them head into more familiar territory as they take on Balestier Khalsa at the Warriors Arena on Thursday evening.
While a dramatic triumph over Muang Thong in the Asian Champions League (ACL) qualifier last Saturday sealed their passage into Asia’s premier club tournament, it also clouded the fact that the Warriors began their local campaign with a stuttering 1-1 draw against Geylang United three days prior.
With SAFFC honcho Richard Bok hinting that their Eagles stalemate felt more of two points dropped rather than a point gained, he urged his charges to step their foot on the gas with regards to their title drive.
“We have to channel our focus and energy back to the league and start our campaign proper,” he said.
“I believed that the team I put out against Geylang could get three points, but they did not play our normal game we wanted and yes, we dropped two points.
“But we have to put it aside and after our ACL qualification, I gave the boys two days off to recharge their batteries and come back fresher, so we have to assess the players who have knocks here and there.”
Bok believes that the Tigers this season have reinforced themselves adequately in vital areas of the pitch.
He explained, “Balestier strengthened the team with Paul Cunningham and Daniel Hammond in the centre of defence and with their two Brazilians (Rivaldo Costa and Vitor Borges de Souza) in attack, they have been playing well as a unit.
“We played them in a friendly and I’ve watched them play, and they are a hardworking side.”
Bok maintained confidence in his new-look outfit and, in particular, his foreign signings being able to fully gel as a unit as the season progresses.
“The league is a long season and there are 33 games and with each passing game, our foreigners would gel better and we would get stronger,” he added.
“Our first objective was to qualify for the ACL and we’ve hit that target, so now we have to focus on the league and we would play well as a unit as we go along.”
His counterpart, Tigers trainer Nasaruddin Jalil, hailed his side’s new-found solidity after their two displays this season.
“We are a much more stable side this season,” he said proudly of his boys.
“But our problem is that we have not been able to field all four of our foreigners after Vitor got injured, and we lost the game in the first half against Gombak United.
“We have learned from our lessons the previous seasons in terms of bringing in quality foreigners, and that’s what we hope we have done this season.”
Nasaruddin echoed his sentiments that it would suit his side to play the champions at this stage of the season, where the SAFFC juggernaut isn’t quite yet at its rumbling best.
“This is just a nice set up for us, and it would be a good gauge of our team’s progress so far,” he elaborated.
“SAFFC still have not settled as a team as their quality foreigners are taking time to adapt to the league, so we have to play them as early as possible. I think its’s better to play them now rather than later on in the season, when they are fully settled.
“We have played two matches so far, and hopefully our injured and suspended players are back and we can give them a good fight.”
The Warriors would not be risking Federico Martinez as he recovers from an injury he had picked up while guiding his team to ACL qualification.
The Tigers would meanwhile welcome the return of Sofiyan Abdul Hamid, but Brazilian striker Borges remains a doubt. |
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