Balestier Khalsa vs Super Reds

Focused Koreans searching for momentum

Syahrom Sulaiman
info@sleague.com

Balestier Khalsa and the Super Reds will resume their league commitments after the mid-season League Cup tournament when both sides do battle at the Toa Payoh Stadium on Friday.

Hosts Balestier Khalsa will rely on the home support to overcome a plucky Super Reds’ side that was slowly gathering momentum to climb the S.League standings before the month-long tournament started.

It remains to be seen how the “interruption” of the League Cup could affect the Koreans’ performances in the league but head coach Jeon Kyeong Joon knows that his players will always display 100 percent commitment in any game that they play.

Jeon said, “Now that we are only left with the S.League matches, we will just focus on it and give our best.

“We worked hard for it (League Cup matches) but the results did not follow up. Nevertheless, we are showing more of our qualities and hope that we could bring better results in every game,” Jeon added.

The Koreans’ progress in the tournament was halted by Woodlands Wellington in the quarterfinals through a penalty shootout.

Nevertheless, their inability to finish off their multitude of chances in a game which eventually ended 0-0 must be worrying for coach Jeon.

They were also guilty of failing to convert gilt-edged chances in the 1-1 draw with Balestier Khalsa during the Preliminary rounds in early June. Therefore coach Jeon will be hoping that his talismanic striker Park Han Seok can deliver the goods this Friday.

He said, “There isn't any very difficult team or very easy team in the S-league. All the teams are all about there and since we know Balestier (Khalsa) as we have played against them many times, we will prepare well and play well.

“Their forward players especially the foreign players are the dangermen we need to look out for,” Jeon pointed out.

Jeon need not worry too much about the foreign players though. Tigers’ head coach Nasaruddin Jalil will have to make do without Chilean midfielder Julio Eduardo and Brazilian forward Ithamar Rangel.

The duo is suffering from flu and it is unlikely that they will be able to take part in the game on Friday.

The other Brazilian, Ednardo Moura, who is usually deployed on the flanks by Jalil, could be asked to lead the attack. Ram Shanker could be another attacking option up front.

Coach Jeon knows that the time is now or never for his side to launch an offensive to move up in the standings.

He said, “All the teams in the S.League know each other well by now and there is nothing to hide. We are just going to play hard against them (Balestier Khalsa) by preparing the right strategy.”