Sivaji, Dalian set for Bishan bow
Firdaus Khan
info@sleague.com
It will be a game of firsts on Thursday evening when Home United take on Dalian Shide at the Bishan Stadium.
Home will have former Singapore coach P N Sivaji calling the shots from the bench for the first time, while Chinese side Dalian will be looking to add a more positive chapter to the so-far chequered history of Chinese teams in the S.League.
The new man at the Protectors’ helm was keen not to hog the spotlight. “I am not really looking at it as my first game in charge but more as the team’s first game in the new season,” said Sivaji.
“I am looking forward to seeing the team in action as we have a very strong and organised squad this year. Since this is a home game, we will go all out to start the season strongly,” he added on further.
Dalian replaced troubled Liaoning Guangyuan as the twelfth team this season and early signs have been positive.
Sivaji has had a look at the young Chinese side in preseason. “They are a very young side and they have a few experienced players. I think their style of playing is very direct and fast and seeing that they are young players, they will have the speed and the aggressiveness to match up with other players,” said the Home honcho.
This Dalian side are the national Under-19 champions of China, but other than that not much is known of this team.
Their senior team in contrast is known as the most successful team in China with eight titles, from both the Jia A and Chinese Super League, to their name. Notable former players include Sun Jihai and Dong Fangzhou who are both playing in the Barclays Premier League with Manchester City and Manchester United respectively.
Home will look to bounce back following a 5-4 penalty shootout loss to SAFFC in the 2008 season’s curtain raiser, the Charity Shield after it ended 1-1 in normal time.
“We were hungry in that match. We wanted to win and it showed with our dominance for majority of the game but we were unlucky to lose in the end,” said Sivaji.
Sivaji could hand debuts to young Thai striker Kornprom Jaroonpong, Cameroonian defender Valery Hiek and former Geylang United midfielder Syed Fadhil.
“It is nice to see that Fadhil is doing well with the team and it’s good to see that he can play anywhere in the midfield,” he said.
On top of all that, Home were further boosted by a new $250,000, two year sponsorship deal with Italian clothing company Kappa.
The only concern for the team is that they will miss Singapore international Indra Sahdan, who is on trial with Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake.
“We will feel Indra’s absence but goals come from many sources in this team and anyone can score. I am confident we can manage for the time being without him,” said Sivaji.