| |
|
|
Etoile eager for first local test
Paul Green
info@sleague.com
Jalan Besar Stadium was introduced to the delights of French football for the first time last Friday, and a vocal crowd at the plush venue made Etoile FC more than welcome on the occasion of the Great Eastern-YEO’S S.League newcomers’ debut appearance in Singapore.
The Frenchmen beat the equally new Beijing Guoan 1-0 on Friday, and most at the ground shared the view that there could have been only one winner, such was the Etoile players’ superiority on the night.
The Chinese side, for most observers, did well to restrict the French to just the one goal.
Now the French are back again, about to face a local Singapore side for the first time, and one wonders if the French will be as dominant this time too.
Sengkang Punggol, Etoile’s latest opponents, have made a bright start to the new season, winning one and losing one of their opening matches. It should be said though that in the first of those, against Balestier Khalsa at Hougang Stadium, they played some excellent football only to be let down by wayward finishing.
Etoile coach Patrick Vallee was at that game and was impressed with the Dolphins.
“They are a young and speedy side and there are quite a number of skilful players, so we will definitely pay them a good deal of respect,” he confided.
“They play a different style to the Chinese team, and we will need to make adjustments accordingly.
“I have to work out what changes I will make for this game, but there are eight or nine from the side who played Beijing who are almost certain to start again.
“The others I am not decided on yet, but more than anything I am focused on our own system and style rather than theirs.”
Etoile trained on the Saturday morning after their morale-boosting opening game victory, and then the coaching staff gave the players the rest of the day and all of Sunday off.
They returned for two sessions on Monday and Tuesday, with the last of those probably at Jalan Besar Stadium again, to remind the players who had been training hard at Queenstown of the special demands of the synthetic surface.
All of the players in the team are fit and have recovered from the rigours of Friday’s game.
Only the two who are yet to pass the S.League’s own fitness test were not included in all of the ball work that the rest of the squad were put through in preparation for the match.
The duo were given special ‘beep test’ training in the morning and then took part in normal training in the afternoon.
Having seen the special skills on show by the team in Friday’s game – and the word would have spread fast through the live Channel 5 telecast as well – another big crowd should be on hand for Wednesday’s match against Sengkang, also to be televised, this time on StarHub.
Sengkang will want to play their part too and show they are not just there to make up the numbers.
A very polished performance against Gombak United last Thursday saw the Dolphins emerge 2-1 winners, admittedly against a side reduced to ten men moments before half-time.
While all eyes will be on the exciting French ‘stars’ like captain Matthias Verschave, fellow striker Frederic Mendy, goalkeeper Yohann Lacroix and midfielders Cyril Bagnost and Flavien Michelini, Sengkang have some bright sparks of their own determined to liven up proceedings.
Speedy wingman Jordan Webb, midfielders Murphy Wiredu and Abdoulaye Diallo and strikers Moussa Keita and the other Diallo, Mamadou, are all in fine early season form and likely to give the newcomers no end of trouble.
This Dolphins’ side is not short on experience either, with 29-year-old Jalal revelling in the responsibility of a starting berth with his new club and newly-instated skipper Nor Azli Yusoff, 26, giving heart and soul to the cause as well.
Team spirit is at an all-time high and no matter how well-drilled or well-coordinated the French may be, the Dolphins look certain to match them for unity.
Coach Aide Iskandar agreed that his players need little motivating against the French newcomers.
“They are a good passing side and very impressive technically, and we are really looking forward to the game,” said the former Singapore captain.
“We have received excellent support from our fans at Hougang Stadium so far this year, and we are hoping they will turn up in force to support us against Etoile at Jalan Besar Stadium to continue their strong faith in our team.”
They will certainly have much rallying to do, especially if Nor Azli can recover from a cut above his eye sustained against Gombak.
With young defender R. Sivaneswaran given compassionate leave due to the recent demise of his grandmother, the Sengkang midfield will have to work overtime to cover for what could be a weakened defence, especially with the elder Diallo also carrying a knock to the ankle.
A second win for the French could have us all speculating whether there is another new challenger to the domination of the Big Three of Tampines Rovers, Home United and SAFFC this season.
Last season it was DPMM of Brunei until they were forced to withdraw from the Great Eastern-YEO’S S.League.
Maybe this year it will be Etoile? Not if Sengkang have anything to do with it of course! |
|
|