ACL a positive experience says Bok

Despite suffering a series of heavy defeats the ACL has beena positive experience for Singapore Armed Forces according to head coach Richard Bok. (WSG)

SINGAPORE – Singapore Armed Forces coach Richard Bok has insisted that his club have no regrets about taking part in this year’s AFC Champions League, believing that the experience has been a positive one.

Heading into their final Group H home game on Tuesday against China’s Shanghai Shenhua, the Singapore double winners are rooted to the bottom of the table with no points and just two goals scored and 15 conceded in four games.

It is a similar position to Sharjah in Group B but while the United Arab Emirates club have thrown in the towel, Bok said the idea has never been considered by SAF.

“I don’t think we have ever considered withdrawing from the AFC Champions League,” he said.

“It’s a huge achievement for us to be in this competition and it has been part of the learning curve for everybody at this club.

“We’ve raised our game when we’ve played in the ACL and it has taken a lot out of our players especially with the travel involved and the number of matches that we have played.

“That has obviously impacted on our results in the S.League and Singapore Cup but we have no regrets about taking part as we have gained a lot of experience and it has given us a chance to see where we really stand.”

With Shenhua needing a win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage, Bok expects another difficult outing on Tuesday.

“We’ll try our best. They have a huge squad and they are a strong team.

“Hopefully the conditions are favourable for us and it will be hot but I expect my players to have a good showing.

“I have been reasonably satisfied with our performance, attitude, character and fighting spirit and I hope we have a similar approach tomorrow.”

Shenhua won the first meeting 4-1 in Shanghai but coach Jia Xiuquan said that the only thing that matters in the return match is three points.

“The result between the teams in Shanghai did not show everything about the teams and anything could happen this time around,” he said.

“As long as everybody is prepared, things will be perfectly fine but there can be no excuses because we are here to get a win.

“We must get victories in our last two games to progress to the knockout stage so the only important outcome tomorrow is a win. The final score doesn’t matter.”

Shenhua midfielder Chen Tao is doubtful with a hamstring problem while SAF will be without the suspended John Wilkinson and could also be missing Thai playmaker Therdsak Chaiman, who has a heel injury.