Warriors ready for sluggish Rams

Mohd Sham
info@sleague.com

SAFFC may have just lost their second consecutive AFC Champions League tie, being gunned down 0-2 by Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Wednesday, but Warriors boss Richard Bok is refusing to cast their Woodlands Wellington assignment on Sunday evening as a launchpad to regroup and recover from their midweek Asian blow.

Bok explained, “It’s not about bouncing back really, as the ACL is a different ball game as compared to the S.League in terms of quality, and it is a huge challenge for us in that competition.”

“The boys are not down as we know how hard it would be in the ACL, but nevertheless, we’re back in familiar territory in the league and we want to win against Woodlands.”

Bok has seen enough from his charges’ two fixtures against Shanghai Shenhua and Suwon to suggest that they will be trying to implement the lessons imparted from their two defeats into their league encounters.

“Of course, we’ve learned a lot in the ACL so far, such as the movement and awareness of our opponents, and we have had first hand experience of how they play,” he elaborated.

“Suwon, for example, play more direct football, while Shanghai adopt a more passing style so there are plenty of aspects we can pick up from and we will put them to use in our matches.”

The Warriors chief admitted that he is somewhat perplexed by the Rams’ sluggish start to the campaign, which has seen them yield just a meagre two points from their first four ties.

Bok said, “We played against them in a pre-season friendly and lost 1-2 and we thought they could pose problems for us during the new season.”

“But they seemed to have an indifferent start to the new season but still, we will not take them lightly and we will play our own game and try get all three points.”

Bok is hoping to put one over Warriors alumni and new Rams boss Nenad Bacina on Sunday.

“I do hope so!” he quipped when quizzed on the prospect.

“In a way, we’re quite similar and we got our own way of doing things but hopefully we will have a good game against them.”

Rams gaffer Bacina is under no illusions of the mammoth task that awaits his players at the Warriors Arena.

He commented, “SAFFC are the league champions and they have great quality, a good squad and are eyeing both the league and other domestic prizes as well as playing in the top Asian competition.”

“I’m not expecting them to slow down at all and it will be a very tough match for us.”

Bacina is not too perturbed by his side’s winless start to the season and claimed his side’s graft have not justified their means so far.

“We played four matches in fifteen days and we did well in our first three games, especially against DPMM, but we conceded a penalty,” he expressed.

“Against the Young Lions, we dominated the match and created numerous chances but we couldn’t score so we have been doing well in the games.”

Bacina admitted that the huge upheaval of the Rams squad during the post season has also impeded their progress so far.

He added, “I said during the pre-season press conference that we had four new defenders, a new goalie as well as two new midfielders and new strikers, so we can’t expect to play as a team so quickly and it takes time to gel as a unit.”

“SAFFC do have an advantage in that they have a more settled and balanced squad than us, so it will be not easy for us.”

The new Rams incumbent revealed that his experience of donning the sky blue jersey of SAFFC will be key in his side’s tactical plan in a bid to upset the league holders.

“In terms of preparation, I know them well having played for them but football is always decided by small details which you can’t predict,” he remarked.

“I’ve been watching SAFFC play many times this season and I do know their style but we will give them a good fight.”

“We hope Lady Luck will smile on us, but we must also play well first and only then will the luck come.”

SAFFC will have to do without the services of the suspended Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin, while Woodlands could have striker Zakaria Yousif miss out through a hamstring injury and Shahri Musa is also a major doubt as he recovers from a motorcycle accident.