Sengkang Punggol vs Tampines Rovers

Faruk: League is our priority

Mohd Sham
info@sleague.com

Tampines Rovers will attempt to launch a fresh assault on the S.League title after a twelve-day hiatus when they travel to Hougang Stadium to face Sengkang Punggol on Thursday evening.

According to Tampines’ first team manager Syed Faruk, the Stags, who lost out on the League Cup after succumbing to SAFFC on penalties in the quarterfinals, are now keeping a firm eye on league proceedings as they sit in fourth spot, just six points behind leaders Gombak United.

“The twelve days has been a welcome rest for us to have a breather and it was good,” acknowledged Faruk.

“Our main priority has always been the league anyway and we had to readjust a few players in different positions.

“For example, Akihiro Nakamura is carrying a knee injury and will be out for at least a month, while Noh Alam Shah’s knee is still bothering him.”

Faruk, whose charges triumphed 2-0 against the Dolphins in March’s crazy encounter that was marred by the expulsion of two Sengkang custodians, is anticipating a tough assignment from the home side.

He explained, “Sengkang are an experienced team despite their current position and there have a core of experienced players in their line up, and we will not be taking the game lightly.

“We always look at what we can do and not whether our opponent is capable or not, but we always prepare ourselves in the best way we can.”

After kickstarting their campaign with a series of frustrating stalemates, Faruk admitted that Tampines have upped their game considerably, but dropped a hint of his side’s chink in their armour.

“We always believe we can win the league and we have the players capable of doing it, but Khairul Amri has been injured as well as Alam Shah, so scoring goals has been a problem for us,” he added.

“We have been getting the attacking midfielders to play up front but we don’t want to burden them too much as that’s not their natural position.

“We want to win the league of course, make no two ways about it, and we’ll be doing everything we can to win it.”

The Dolphins, currently languishing in tenth spot, are aiming to erase the memory of their disappointing group stage elimination from the League Cup.

They will have much to do if they are to claim their first victory in any competition since 22 May, when they managed a 1-0 victory against Albirex Niigata (Singapore).

Jorg Steinebrunner will be without the suspended Murphy Wiredu, but otherwise he has a full Sengkang squad to choose from.