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Rams host Beijing boys after long break
Paul Green
info@sleague.com
It has been seventeen days since Woodlands Wellington last saw Great Eastern-YEO’S S.League action, when they had put up an impressive performance on the opening day of the 2010 season at Jalan Besar Stadium, only to surrender a two-goal lead in securing a 2-2 draw against the Young Lions.
Nevertheless it was a match that demonstrated how well-prepared the Rams had been for the new season under rookie coach A. Shasi Kumar.
Early trial from had been sound before that first outing, and the club was keen to take maximum points from that game, knowing there was such a long break to their next outing this week.
But it wasn’t to be, though supporters would have been encouraged by the return of Moroccan striker Abdelhadi Laakkad. The man did not disappoint, netting a classic goal to mark his first appearance in Singapore after a year off recovering from a previous injury.
On Thursday Woodlands are back at their own Woodlands Stadium, which has seen renovation work since the end of last season, and where they are ready to greet Chinese newcomers Beijing Guoan.
The visitors were gallant in defeat against French team Etoile FC last Friday, conceding the winner only in the dying stages of a game they lost by just that single goal.
With that experience behind them and a chance to play on grass again they could be a bit of a handful for the Rams.
Shasi has seen them play and was an interested spectator at their first match last Friday.
“They look a good team and they were just not ready yet when they played Etoile,” he observed.
“It’s not easy for a foreign team to come here and start to perform immediately. But I’m sure they are going to be a good opponent and given time they can only get better.
“I’m happy to be playing them now before they have had a chance to settle in properly.”
The Woodlands coach reported that despite the long break, his players had all been training well and team bonding was excellent.
“We want to show our many fans, who stuck with us last season, when things were not going so well, that we are a different team now,” he said.
There are no suspensions or injuries in the Rams’ ranks, and fans can expect another big performance from the side which gave the Young Lions such a shock before conceding late goals on debut.
“We’re hoping even more fans will come along on Thursday,” he said, “knowing it’s a home game and we can maintain our positive start to the season.
“Whatever style Beijing Guoan plays will not make any real difference to us, as we will play our own game, and I think the fans will find it enjoyable watching this Woodlands side play this year.”
It is all positive for the Rams who recruited well in the off-season, bringing in useful Japanese defender Kazuki Yoshino from Albirex Niigata (Singapore) and welcoming back wide player Sazali Salleh who has already made a big impression in pre-season and in the first official fixture.
The key signing of central defender Winston Yap, 33, has stabilised the backline, while goalkeepers Fajar Sarib, 32, and Hafez Mawasi, 26, seem certain to contest the number one shirt avidly all season, such is their quality.
The captaincy of former SAFFC and Geylang United winger Mohd Noor Ali is a huge boost to the Rams, while the impact of target-man Laakkad and midfielder Syed Karim is sure to be instrumental in the Rams’ renaissance in 2010.
It could be at least another game before we see the Beijing side break their duck on that basis. |
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