| |
|
|
Faruk hails Qiu ahead of Home battle
Firdaus Khan
info@sleague.com
The two teams have always been ranked among the top sides in the S.League and between them, they share four league titles.
In undoubtedly one of the biggest fixtures in Singapore football, Tampines Rovers and Home United will lock horns at Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday night as they set out to renew their rivalries for the 2010 season.
Five points currently separate these two sides after seven games. Home United are behind in fourth position with twelve points, while Tampines Rovers are enjoying an unbeaten start to the season which sees them comfortably perch at the top of the league standings.
Tampines team manager Syed Faruk however warned his team to forget the records, and urged that the key to this match is focus, which has been key to their good run so far.
“Last year we drew a lot of matches (at the start of the season) and it cost us in the end,” he told sleague.com.
“We don’t think so much about our unbeaten form. We just have to take each game as it comes along and only then can we fully focus and get on with the game.”
The Stags are slowly starting to separate themselves from the rest of the league as they open up a four-point gap at the top. Arguably the main factor for their impressive form is Singapore international striker Qiu Li.
Qiu is leading the goalscoring charts after having scored seven goals already this season. The 28-year-old’s recent performances have caught the eye of many, including Faruk himself, who revealed that, more than just getting goals, Qiu’s display has caused a deeper and greater impact, much to the team’s benefit.
“Qiu Li has been brilliant so far,” commented the former Singapore international.
“He has kept everyone on their toes, especially the attacking talents of Khairul Amri, who has just returned, (Aleksandar) Duric, Aliff Shafaein and even Jamil Ali. It is good to see our attackers working so hard for the team.”
Indeed, Tampines boast an exciting array of forwards in the team. The addition of three-time S.League golden boot winner Duric in the off season and Khairul Amri’s recent return to the squad after an injury layoff has noticeably improved the team’s fortunes in the current season.
But they will be facing a major test this Friday, when Qiu faces a team he was once a part of back in 2007.
Home seem to have overcome an inconsistent start with back-to-back victories over Sengkang Punggol and Geylang United in their previous two league matches. Striker Choi Chul Woo has to be credited for the upswing in results as he has scored in each of their last three matches.
The Protectors notched only one win in the first five games this year, which included a humiliating 1-4 defeat to newcomers Beijing Guoan. They have been woeful in defence, conceding 13 goals so far, which is joint worst with Woodlands Wellington.
Faruk felt that changes before the new season may have hindered Home’s early-season progress as he provided his assessment of his opponents so far.
“Home is slowly coming back to form. They brought in a new coach (in Lee Lim Saeng) and they had new players to work with,” he remarked.
“It will definitely take time for the players to settle as they have to learn to adapt to new formations, new tactics, but they seem to be back on track now.”
Fans can expect goals in this fixture as both teams currently hold the best goalscoring record for the year with 15 apiece. Also, both sides have never failed to find the back of the net in every league match this season.
On paper, Tampines do appear to be slight favourites, but it is worth noting that in all three league meetings last year, it was Home United who held the upper hand at two draws and a win over the Stags.
For a fixture of this magnitude, though, as they always say, throw the form book out of the window, as both teams will certainly be eager to go all out to go one step closer towards ultimately reclaiming the S.League crown which has eluded them for many years. |
|
|