Bulls bank on team ethic as second series begins
Gary Koh
info@sleague.com
Gombak United’s hard work ethic is the main pillar for their positioning among the early frontrunners in the league.
It could again be the key towards another three points when they entertain Sengkang Punggol on Monday evening at Jurong West.
Under the guidance of Australian coach Darren Stewart, the Bulls have continued their steady rise over recent years to be pushing perennial title-chasers Singapore Armed Forces and Bruneian outfit DPMM at the summit after 11 games played.
The previous time both sides met in late February, Gombak needed a goal from club top-scorer Ojimi Gabriel Obatola to secure the win at Jalan Besar.
But there will be some changes in their rematch this time around.
The Avaya-J&J League Cup holders will meet the Dolphins without suspended Australian central midfielder Goran Subara, but Stewart is unfazed by his compatriot’s absence.
“We are a team that rely on good solid hard work to get something in the game, not individuals,” insisted the former Socceroo.
“Even without Goran around, there are other players around who are equally capable of keeping our system of play going.”
Replacing Subara at the heart of midfield will be Theerawesin Seehawong, who returns to the side after sitting out in Thursday’s 3-1 home win over Geylang United.
While Stewart admitted the Thai is short of reaching match fitness, he trusts his man to perform alongside Shafuan Sutohmoh against Sengkang.
“While Theerawesin lacks a bit of match fitness having recovered from a long-term injury early in the season, he is a physically fit lad,” he added.
“It does not really matter because whoever comes in has to do his job and deliver on the pitch, and I am confident he will do it.”
Meanwhile, Nigerian forwards Emmanuel Emuejeraye (cut forehead) and Kingsley Njoku (left hamstring) could feature after they shook off their injuries to participate in the Bulls’ final pre-match training session on Sunday evening.
Together with Obatola, Agu Casmir and Ruhaizad Ismail, the duo have formed the league’s most potent attacking force this season, with their speed and power play proving too overwhelming for many opposing defences.
Stewart welcomed the duo’s return to full training as they gave him more options up front against the experienced Dolphins backline.
Subara’s suspension means one of the two strikers is likely to sit out to satisfy the reduced quota of three foreigners for Gombak, but it is a dilemma the former Balestier Central star seems happy to deal with.
“It is a very good selection puzzle for me,” he admitted.
“They have put in the effort to be where they are now. Whoever I select, I am confident of them delivering.”
However, he also cautioned against taking their opponents lightly as the Dolphins had been on a streak of two consecutive league wins.
“Sengkang are currently on a run lately, and they have good defenders who can keep us quiet,” he said.
“It will be tough for us to get a result against them, thus we need to keep up our attacking game and hard work to have a chance.”
The Dolphins will travel to the west of Singapore high in confidence after wins over Woodlands Wellington and Young Lions in their previous league games, although their RHB Singapore Cup elimination at Tampines dampened the momentum a little.
Sengkang coach Jorg Steinebrunner is likely to keep faith with the lineup that have delivered the points, with skipper Aide Iskandar marshalling the defence and Indra Sahdan Daud providing the inspiration in attack.
Without any suspension or injury worries to contend with, the visitors are seeking more points to push themselves higher up the congested middle pack in the league table.
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