SINGAPORE - Tampines Rovers have spluttered a little following a fine start to the season, but head coach Kadir Yahaya on Tuesday (April 16) said he believes a 10-day break ahead of their AFC Cup Group F game with Nagaworld FC on Wednesday has rejuvenated the squad.
The Stags had won four and drawn one of their first five games in all competitions, scoring 15 goals along the way, but then squandereda host of chances in a 0-0 draw with Albirex Niigata in the Singapore Premier League on March 29.
They rebounded by beating Nagaworld 5-1 in Phnom Penh three days later, but then slipped to a 2-1 loss to Brunei DPMM in Bandar Seri Begawan on April 7. Kadir said the travelling took its toll on his players.
Speaking at the pre-game press conference at the Peninsula Excelsior Hotel, the 51-year-old said: "It has been a much-needed break.
"We have been travelling, training, playing and it is tiring, especially for the national team boys who came back (from international duty in late-March).
"Some had niggling injuries, some were not 100 per cent fit, but we have got them rested and now they're coming back fresh. We hope the rest will see us give a good performance tomorrow."
Tampines defender Amirul Adli, 23, said he and his teammates are very motivated to bounce back from the DPMM loss.
"We are looking at the big picture; there are a lot of games this season and this is just one setback," he said. "We'll learn from our mistakes in the Brunei game, and we are raring to go. We will use the loss as a motivation for us to get back to our winning ways and do even better from now on."
Despite their handsome win in the first meeting with the Cambodian team , Kadir warned the scoreline flattered the Stags.
"The game was quite even, and at 1-1 (Nagaworld) had clear chance to make it 2-1 but were not able to take it," noted the former Singapore defender. "After that we controlled the game and scored our goals... So we are taking this game very seriously."
Tampines top Group F with seven points after three games, followed by Vietnam's Ha Noi (four), Nagaworld and Myanmar's Yangon United (both on three points).
Nagaworld coach Meas Channa, however, is bracing for another onslaught at the Jalan Besar Stadium. The 35-year-old singled out the Stags trio of Japanese winger Ryutaro Megumi, Canadian attacker Jordan Webb and Serbian playmaker Zehrudin Mehmedovic as danger men.
"Tomorrow's game will be very tough for us," said Channa, whose side were also trounced 10-0 by Vietnamese side Ha Noi in an earlier Group F game.
"We played well in the first half (in Phnom Penh) so we will try to do that again, but we may have to be more defensive in the second half."
Women's Football in Singapore is with Putri Nur Sazali and 5 others. ST Young Star Award: Queensway Secondary's history-maker Putri Nur Syaliza keeps feet firmly on ground.
Queensway Secondary School, 2A Margaret Drive, Queenstown (2019)
The latest Man Utd news including team news, injury updates, transfers, features, match previews, match reports and more.
Ángel Di María - Wikipedia
Burnley moved five points clear of the relegation zone after a 2-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Burnley boost survival hopes with 2-0 win over Wolves Asked if Wolves
Football: Burnley boost survival hopes with 2-0 win over Wolves
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has said the club will trigger an extension clause in Toby Alderweireld's contract.. The Belgium defender will now be contracted to Spurs until the summer of
Tottenham to trigger Alderweireld one-year contract extension
LONDON (AFP) - Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said talisman Harry Kane could be out of the rest of the season after he limped off injured in the second half of his team's 1-0 Champions
Harry Kane: Tottenham striker could miss run-in - Mauricio
Cristiano Ronaldo hamstring injury: Ronaldo eases Juventus
'He's great to watch, but he's not God': Pope sets fans
Maurizio Sarri says he is not worried about Chelsea's looming transfer embargo, insisting he has confidence in his squad as he targets a top-four finish in the Premier League. The Stamford Bridge club, who host London rivals West Ham on Monday, are fifth in the table, level on 63 points with fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says Sarri - punchng.com
Leicester axe Puel, target Rodgers as successor Wilfried Zaha scoring the second goal for Crystal Palace who beat Leicester 4-1 on Saturday. The Foxes dismissed manager Claude Puel after the club
Claude Puel sacked by Leicester as club target Brendan
Liverpool opened up a seven point gap at the top of the Premier League after a narrow 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, while Arsenal's poor away form continued with a 1-0 defeat at
Liverpool extend lead at top, Arsenal slip up at West Ham
Pep impressed by toffees, Football News & Top Stories - The
MAURIZIO SARRI admits the axe is hanging over him after just five months as Chelsea boss. Chelsea need to get back to winning ways against they are really very suitable for my football
What's gone wrong for Chelsea? 5 ways Maurizio Sarri can
NAPLES, Italy: Alexandre Lacazette scored the only goal as Arsenal dispatched Napoli 1-0 on Thursday (Apr 18) to advance to the Europa League semi-finals 3-0 on aggregate.
Arsenal win in Napoli to reach Europa League semi-finals
Antonio Conte (Italian pronunciation: [anˈtɔːnjo ˈkonte]; born 31 July 1969) is an Italian professional football manager and former player. He is the head coach at Serie A club Inter Milan . Playing as a midfielder , Conte began his career at local club Lecce and later became one of the most decorated and influential players in the history
Inter Milan name Antonio Conte as coach | football
0 comments:
Post a Comment