Tuesday, February 02, 2010
SLeague 2010 Preview
I must admit to being quite excited about the new season in Singapore which began last night. Not because of the new foreign teams which fill me with as much excitement as a trip to the dentist, but rather among the more established clubs.
SIngapore Armed Forces of course have dominated the title over the last few seasons and will be strong favourites in the new campaign. They will be without experienced players like Aleksander Duric, Kenji Ari and Therdsak Chaiman but coach Richard Bok looks to have invested wisely with plenty of experience being added to the squad.
In have come Swede Nikas Sandberg, Croat Ivan Lovric and Uruguayan striker Frederico Martinez while local Indra Sahdan Daud and Noh Rahman have added SLeague know how.
Big things are also expected at Home United where they have replaced PN Sivaji with some Korean geezer. They have managed to keep some of Singapore's most promising young players and have brought in Nelson San Martin, formerly of Kedah and Bangkok Glass, to line up alongside Peres de Oliveria and Shi Jiayi.
They have lost their leading scorer for the last few seasons, Kengne Ludovick, so there will be alot of responsibility riding on new import Choi Choo Woo's shoulders up front. Interestingly, or alarmingly, the Home United website only lists two strikers...
Gombak United looked good at times last season. Their squad has a seriously settled squad with players like Kingsley Njokou and Gabriel Obatola seemingly around for yonks. They have brought back Obadin Aikhena after his successful spell with the Young Lions and have retained the impressive Goran Subara.
Hopes are high out west that the Bulls can mount a sustained challenge this season for some silverware.
The other main title contender will be Tampines Rovers. Shorn of Indonesian based Noh Alam Shah, Ridhuan and Mustafic Fahruddin. It's going to be a big year for Khairul Amri who has suffered much from injuries over the last couple of years bt showed his undoubted talent in the Asian Cup qualifiers against Thailand.
He is no longer a promising youngster. The guy will be 25 years old next month. Time for him to impose himself on games and make things happen.
The Stags have also signed Aleksander Duric who will celebrate his 40th birthday in August. A dedicated pro, a term that sounds deadly dull, Duric makes goalscoring look simple. He does sod all all game but then will find half a yard of space in the box and punish the unwary. Considering how often he does it you do wonder why defenders haven't got wise to him and got tighter. Then again any contact and the ref will be waving his arms excitedly, blowing his whistle and waving cards.
Singapore Cup winners Geylang United will be hoping to climb the table while Woodlands Wellington will probably continue to have the best natural support in the league. Balestier Khalsa and Sengkang Punggol will fight it out for bottom while Albirex Niigata will play pretty football and Young Lions will hope to continue the form of the latter stages of 2009.
And my prediction for the title? If Home United can bring in a prolific striker to get on the end of San Martin's creativity they could well be in with a shout. But you look at SAF's squad and think they will have too much.
SIngapore Armed Forces of course have dominated the title over the last few seasons and will be strong favourites in the new campaign. They will be without experienced players like Aleksander Duric, Kenji Ari and Therdsak Chaiman but coach Richard Bok looks to have invested wisely with plenty of experience being added to the squad.
In have come Swede Nikas Sandberg, Croat Ivan Lovric and Uruguayan striker Frederico Martinez while local Indra Sahdan Daud and Noh Rahman have added SLeague know how.
Big things are also expected at Home United where they have replaced PN Sivaji with some Korean geezer. They have managed to keep some of Singapore's most promising young players and have brought in Nelson San Martin, formerly of Kedah and Bangkok Glass, to line up alongside Peres de Oliveria and Shi Jiayi.
They have lost their leading scorer for the last few seasons, Kengne Ludovick, so there will be alot of responsibility riding on new import Choi Choo Woo's shoulders up front. Interestingly, or alarmingly, the Home United website only lists two strikers...
Gombak United looked good at times last season. Their squad has a seriously settled squad with players like Kingsley Njokou and Gabriel Obatola seemingly around for yonks. They have brought back Obadin Aikhena after his successful spell with the Young Lions and have retained the impressive Goran Subara.
Hopes are high out west that the Bulls can mount a sustained challenge this season for some silverware.
The other main title contender will be Tampines Rovers. Shorn of Indonesian based Noh Alam Shah, Ridhuan and Mustafic Fahruddin. It's going to be a big year for Khairul Amri who has suffered much from injuries over the last couple of years bt showed his undoubted talent in the Asian Cup qualifiers against Thailand.
He is no longer a promising youngster. The guy will be 25 years old next month. Time for him to impose himself on games and make things happen.
The Stags have also signed Aleksander Duric who will celebrate his 40th birthday in August. A dedicated pro, a term that sounds deadly dull, Duric makes goalscoring look simple. He does sod all all game but then will find half a yard of space in the box and punish the unwary. Considering how often he does it you do wonder why defenders haven't got wise to him and got tighter. Then again any contact and the ref will be waving his arms excitedly, blowing his whistle and waving cards.
Singapore Cup winners Geylang United will be hoping to climb the table while Woodlands Wellington will probably continue to have the best natural support in the league. Balestier Khalsa and Sengkang Punggol will fight it out for bottom while Albirex Niigata will play pretty football and Young Lions will hope to continue the form of the latter stages of 2009.
And my prediction for the title? If Home United can bring in a prolific striker to get on the end of San Martin's creativity they could well be in with a shout. But you look at SAF's squad and think they will have too much.
# posted by Me @ 8:47 AM 
