Bring it on, says Bok

25 April 2009

Great Eastern-Yeo’sS-League 2009

DPMM FC v SAFFC

Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Sunday 8.15pm

IT HAS all the makings of the biggest game in the Great Eastern-Yeo’s S-League 2009: SAFFC take on DPMM FC in the Brunei club’s own backyard this Sunday.

SAFFC, who are looking to notch their fourth straight title, top the league table with21 points from nine games while DPMM are in third place. It will be the first meeting between the two sides.

The Warriors fly off to Bandar Seri Begawan on Saturday and awaiting them at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium will be a massive crowd.

An average of 3,500 spectators have filled the Jalan Besar Stadium this season for S-League’s Friday Night Football matches, but DPMM have been pulling in crowds of over 5,000 for their matches in the 30,000-capacity Hassanal Bolkiah.

Nearly 10,000 fans showed up for their last home game on March 24, a 1-0 win over Sengkang Punggol.

Earlier this week, DPMM head coach Vjeran Simunic told the Borneo Bulletin newspaper:

“We are mentally prepared (for SAFFC) and we have to remain calm and cool headed,” the Serb was quoted as saying. “Like a lion, we can strike the opponent hard.

“I hope all local fans will come to the stadium and support our team on Sunday. I want to see a full stadium rooting for our players in this crucial game.”

I like big crowds, says Bok

While most clubs would feel daunted facing a huge, hostile home support, Bok, who is anticipating a crowd of 15,000, is looking forward to Sunday evening.

“It’s going to be tough playing DPMM away, it’s a clash near the top of the table, but I’m hoping that even more fans turn up as the atmosphere will motivate my players,” said Bok.

“Massive crowds are not new to us.”

In 2003, SAFFC faced Indonesia’s Petrokimia Putra in front of a partisan crowd of 25,000 at the Surabaya Stadium in the Asean Cup Championships. The Warriors pushed the local side hard and lost 3-2 in extra time.

SAFFC have also faced crowds of over 8,000 at Shanghai Shenhua and Japan’s Kashima Antlers in the AFC Champions League, the continent’s top tier club competition, this season.

The Warriors could be boosted by the return of Therdsak Chaiman from a heel injury. The Thai midfielder was omitted from the SAFFC squad that travelled to Kashima, where they lost 5-0 in the AFC Champions League last Wednesday.

DPMM will be missing Korean forward Oh Ddog Yi, who picked up four yellow cards in earlier S-League matches.

But the Warriors will still have to contend with DPMM’s Brunei international striker Shahrazen Said.

“We’ll focus on Shahrazen especially as he used to be the top scorer in the Malaysian Super League,” said Bok.

“They will be supported by players at the back and could be very dangerous on the pitch. We will try to play our normalgame and keep it simple — pass the ball and get into scoring position.”

Upcoming fixtures

Monday: Young Lions v Sengkang Punggol (Jalan Besar)