RHB Singapore Cup: Foreign flavour for final quarters spot
Fabius Chen
info@sleague.com
The last quarterfinal spot in this year’s RHB Singapore Cup will be up for grabs when Thai invitees TTM Samut Sakhon take on the Super Reds at Tampines Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Originally scheduled to be played at Jalan Besar Stadium, the switch of venue will suit the Thais just fine, especially after a Fandi Ahmad-led Pelita Jaya side struggled to adapt to Jalan Besar’s artificial turf.
Great Eastern-YEO’S S.League pacesetters Brunei DPMM, who emerged victorious over the Indonesian outfit, await the winners in the quarterfinals, which will be played over two legs.
Under the leadership of ex-international Attaphol Puspakom, TTM currently lie 11th in the 16-team Thai Premier League and will be looking at this competition as a welcome distraction from their woeful league form.
It remains to be seen if Attaphol will field any of his foreign stars, including Ivorian midfielder Aly Camara and Cameroonian forward Paul Bekombo Ekollo, who had spells with Sengkang Punggol and Balestier Khalsa in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
Despite not knowing what to expect from his Thai opposition, Super Reds coach Jeon Kyeong Joon was relishing the prospect of Wednesday’s challenge.
“I know nothing about our opponents,” he admitted.
“It would have been easier if we were to play one of the local teams whom we are familiar with.
“Nevertheless, we are going to figure them out on the day and play the way we have prepared.”
And preparation is something Jeon’s side will have in abundance, having had a ten-day break since their last outing, a 1-0 win over Home United in the league.
The long rest will serve his side well against TTM, the 35-year-old believed.
“It is always better to play when the players are fresh, rather than tired out from a packed match schedule,” he pointed out.
Even more encouraging for Jeon is the fact that his team will be enjoying home comforts despite being drawn as the “away” side in this tie.
When asked about his opponents having to travel for what is essentially a “home” game, the Super Reds coach replied: “It can be a disadvantage for them and I am just glad we are having our ‘away’ game in Singapore.”
Both sides made it to the quarterfinal stage last year, only to be sent packing by eventual finalists SAFFC and Woodlands Wellington. The fact that both their 2008 conquerors have already been unceremoniously dumped out of this year’s competition is, however, not the only motivational factor going into Wednesday’s tie.
Phnom Penh Crown’s win over the Young Lions on Monday guaranteed that a foreign side will make it to the showpiece final on 8 November, drastically shortening the odds of a non-Singaporean club writing its name on the trophy for the first time.
In spite of this opportunity to create a little piece of Singapore Cup history, Super Reds honcho Jeon was adamant that the league is still his top priority.
“I don’t have any high expectations or urge to win the cup, as the S.League is still our main focus,” he said.
“However, I will try to balance the two competitions well.”
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