Fandi’s coming home

Anthony Sutton
info@sleague.com

A buzz ran through the Singapore football community when it was announced that home grown hero Fandi Ahmad would be bringing his Pelita Jaya side to compete in the Singapore Cup.

Forget Torres and Gerrard with their cameo appearances in their token friendly in July, Fandi is the local boy made good. He is a tangible link back to the days when Singapore were a power in the Malaysia Cup and the crowds flocked to the National Stadium.

But there is little sentimentality in football. That’s left for fans and romantics. For Fandi he isn’t entering the Singapore Cup just to say hi to some old friends.

It’s been a tough season on and off the field for his Indonesian side and with title and cup dreams ended prematurely Fandi has just one last chance of silverware this year. He’s coming to Singapore to win the cup.

He is of course aware of the way his return is being viewed and he is ‘very excited’ about it but come kick off, his mind will be on one thing. Cup glory.

There is something so Singaporean in the match up. Indonesian side Pelita Jaya coached by Singapore’s favorite son taking on DPMM from Brunei. The side that has taken the S.League by storm this season.

“We played them in a friendly a year or so back,” said Fandi, explaining how he was familiar with his opponents on Wednesday night.

“And I have seen them a couple of times this season,” he went on but despite their fine form in the early stages of the season he was not perturbed. “They’ve had a bit of luck!” he smiled.

The thing with luck of course is that it can turn quickly and Fandi must be wondering when fate will smile kindly on him next. He takes his side into Wednesday’s tie looking back on two home wins but, as they have been all season, they were narrow, hard-fought affairs.

He also takes his side to Singapore on Monday minus new signing, Liberian international James Koko Lomel. He’s not suspended, he’s not cup tied and he’s not even injured. He just doesn’t have the correct exit permit in his passport yet so cannot leave the country until that is sorted!

While there’s no doubt Lomel would have added to his attacking options for the DPMM tie Fandi will again look to his top scorer Cristiano Lopes. The Brazilian has netted half of his side’s goals this season while the rest of the team has been looking somewhat shot-shy.

“I only have two foreigners with me (in Singapore), Eduardo and Lopes. I really need my established stars to turn in a big performance.”

One player due an upturn in form is driving midfielder Firman Utina who has his own Cup pedigree. In 2006 he scored a hat trick for his old club Arema Malang in the final as they defeated Persija 4-3.

There will be at least one familiar name on the DPMM teamsheet. Ivan Jerkovic spent a season with Fandi at Pelita Jaya before leaving at the end of last season. Jerkovic was part of the PJ side that reached the Copa Indonesia semifinals where they lost to Pesija Jakarta.

Now Fandi Ahmad is hoping to take his charges one step further, to a final berth and possible silverware!