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."
Football: Philippe Aw, Fadzuhasny Juraimi, to lead U-15 and U
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's instant impact as Manchester United interim manager continued in his first home game in charge as two goals from Paul Pogba helped his team secure a 3-1 win over Huddersfield.
Pogba strikes twice as Man United win on Solskjaer home bow
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp takes some responsibility for the club's 'long dry spell'. The Reds last won a trophy in 2012 - the League Cup - but have not won the Champions League
Klopp takes responsibility for Liverpool's 'long dry spell
Football: Lucas Moura, from PSG cast-off to Tottenham idol Tottenham's Lucas Moura celebrates after scoring his side's third goal against Ajax during the Champions League semi-final second leg
Lucas Moura, from PSG cast-off to Tottenham idol | Free
Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" Women in football face daily battle, says France
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach
en.rfi.fr/wire/20181218-women-football-face-daily-battle-says-france-coach
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach France coach Corinne Diacre is hoping to guide Les Bleues to the women's World Cup title next year on home soil AFP. Trailblazing France
'Women in football face daily battle' | The Express Tribune
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirms contract withMolde has expired (at Molde).' Solskjaer has signed a deal with United until the end of the season and that any return to Molde would be down to the
Solskjaer's deal at Molde expires giving interim boss clear
Spurs take revenge on Arsenal to reach League Cup semis. LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur gained sweet revenge over north London rivals Arsenal as goals in each half by Son Heung-min and Dele Alli earned them a 2-0 win on Wednesday and a League Cup semi-final place.
Spurs take revenge on Arsenal to reach League Cup semis
Milivojevic penalty seals Palace win at Newcastle | Free
Sacked Mourinho heading back to Madrid?, Football News & Top
April 6 (Reuters) - Crystal Palace all but banished any lingering relegation fears as captain Luka Milivojevic fired home a late penalty to secure a 1-0 Premier League victory at Newcastle on
Milivojevic penalty seals Palace win at Newcastle - The
Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle. 4 Min Read. Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - January 29, 2019
Manchester City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle
Koscielny returns to plug gap at the back, Football News
Wood double gives Burnley win over Cardiff in relegation scrap
With veterans Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben scoring in their last league game for the club and the Frenchman becoming the first player to win nine Bundesliga titles, victory was also sweet for Kovac. He spent much of his first season at Bayern under pressure while his future in Munich, despite a contract to 2021, is still in doubt.
Bayern Munich win Bundesliga title for seventh successive
0 comments:
Post a Comment