Tuesday, August 04, 2009
SAF - a lean, mean machine
SAF seem to fly in the face of accepted football practise in the early 21st century. Many successful clubs round the world look to power and pace with healthy doses of youth as they seek to fill their mantelpiece with silverware.
Much of Gombak United's success has come from their powerful triumvirate up front of Agu Casmir, Kingsley Njouke and Gabriel Obatola. In Indonesia Persipua regained the title inspired in part by the battering ram strike force of Ernest Jeremiah and Alberto Goncalves.
In England much of Arsenal's best work has come with players boasting pace to burn, Thierry Henry, and power like Patrick Vieria.
SAF? They have an aging bean pole striker, an aging midfield and a disciplined defence. Up front Aleksander Duric is more Alan Smith than Peter Crouch. He is able to hold the ball well while waiting for the geriatric midfield to wheeze their up in support.
Yesterday against Tampines they were without the services of John Wilkinson, suspended. Undaunted coach Richard Bok threw in Ahmad Latiff, possibly the most creative player in their squad. With Park Tae Woo and Therdsak Chaiman they took it in turns to get forward and provide an outlet for the battling Duric.
But perhaps the heart of SAF is at the back where they just don't make too many mistakes. In recent weeks Albirex Niigata have fallen behind 3-1 to both SAF and Gombak United. A comeback against Gombak wasn't a surprise but you couldn't say the same against the Warriors. Those buggers are just too clinical, too disciplined at the back to give away too many mistakes.
Daniel Bennett is the lynchpin. He just does the business without the verbal remonstrates that all 'leaders' are deemed to possess. When he has to, he passes, when he has to he goes row Z and when he has to he just wellies the bloody thing and hopes Duric can do something with it until the midfield pushes up in support. Not spectacular, just efficient.
It ain't fast free flowing football and it ain't really pretty. Against Tampines they rode their luck as they looked shaky at the back against a succession of crosses and free kicks but they can rely on Duric to find space and suddenly football looks so simple.
Coach Richard Bok is set fair on another Sleague title but their must be one doubt nagging at the back of his mind. His successful Warriors can't have much longer together and when it comes time to break up this squad will be able to replace the pillars? The Bennentts, Therdsaks and Durics?
# posted by Me @ 9:46 PM 
