Beleaguered clubs seeking positives at Clementi
Gary Koh
info@sleague.com
There is more than just the three points at stake when crisis clubs Home United and Sengkang Punggol face each other at Clementi on Wednesday evening.
Both teams got off to sluggish starts in their domestic seasons and are presently languishing in the bottom three after eight matches.
They come into this game on the back of defeats in their previous fixtures. Home suffered a 0-1 reverse at Geylang United on Sunday while Sengkang were hammered 1-7 at home by SAFFC the day before.
For the 10th-placed Protectors, the only silver lining in their woeful campaign is their perfect record in their temporary Clementi home in the two home matches played so far.
They will be hoping to make it three out of three at the expense of Sengkang, but they have several injuries to contend with.
Defensive stalwarts S. Subramani (groin) and Ismail Yunos (knee) are sidelined, while central midfielders Tengku Mushadad and Syed Fadhil (both hamstring) are doubtful for the fixture.
They are also not helped with the tight gap of two days between their upcoming match and the Geylang game, leaving coach PN Sivaji with a selection dilemma.
While he has acknowledged the need for fresh legs under these circumstances, he is concerned over the team shape with the changes.
He admitted: “Some may need to take a rest after the previous game, but if I make six changes to the team, I may break up the cohesiveness.”
In light of Home’s dismal league form, Sivaji has revised his expectations of his team in the coming games and backed the players to deliver in trying times.
“It has been very difficult for us as the whole team are down,” he confessed. “We have to work on the small details and
take one match at a time.
“With our backs against the wall, we have to come out and play with confidence. In a position of crisis, there are opportunities to show what we are truly capable of.”
Also looking to bounce back are Sengkang coach Jorg Steinebrunner and club top scorer Indra Sahdan Daud, who will be facing his former employers for the first time since his move at the start of the season.
While Indra admitted the defeat on Saturday was the worst in his S.League career, he is urging his colleagues to forget the shenanigans on Saturday and focus on getting their game together against Home.
“I told them after the game that it was a one-off and we have to put this aside and look forward to the next game,” he said.
The Singapore international is unperturbed on the prospects of facing his former colleagues and a depleted defence at his sights.
“Although I am facing against my former club, I have to be professional and do well for my present team to help get over the defeat.
“The absence of one or two players at the back does not make the team at Home, they still have quality defenders in Valery Hiek, Rosman Sulaiman and Shahril Alias.”
Steinebrunner wants the cellar-dwellers to show a greater sense of urgency to get things right and climb up the table in light of the debacle on Saturday.
The German coach noted: “The defeat to SAFFC is a good wake-up call for us. We need to do something and have to work harder for everybody at the club.
“We are looking at improved performances and a better stroke of luck, so that we can turn around the corner with positive results in time to come.”
Noh Rahman returns to the fold after serving a one-match suspension over the weekend and assistant coach-cum-skipper Aide Iskandar may play a part in beefing up the defence after spending the last few games in his technical role on the bench, with Winston Yap likely to be the one making way.
Steinebrunner welcomes the inclusion of Noh in his match squad and backs Indra to continue his fine start with the Dolphins against Home.
“When somebody in the team is suspended, he will be missed. The same goes for Noh in the last game.
“He gives us calmness and experience in his role as a defender or midfielder on the pitch.
“Indra is a key player for us, whether he scores or assists as he brings presence and character into the side. He is showing just that by being up there in the goal scoring charts with five goals.
“But it is not just Indra’s job to score. The job of getting goals and the result lies with the whole team.”
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