Jorg impressed with Indra

W.Ng
info@sleague.com

It says a lot about how curiously the 2009 S.League season is shaping up that Sengkang Punggol will go into their clash with Tampines Rovers at the Hougang Stadium ahead of their visitors in the league table.

The Dolphins have finished in the bottom two in each of the last four seasons while the Stags have not finished outside of the top four since 2002, but Monday's hosts will no doubt be pleased that the four points they have amassed is one more than Tampines have, with both sides having played three matches each -- although that could have been different, had not Sengkang received a large dose of help from Geylang United in their last game.

Sengkang were 2-0 down and staring down the barrel when Walid Lounis's 70th-minute dismissal sparked a stirring comeback, with Indra Sahdan Daud following up his goal from the ensuing penalty with a tap-in with just two minutes to go to earn his side a share of the points and deny Geylang their second win of the season.

The four points that Sengkang have taken from these three games is a tally that took them 10 games to achieve last year, and nine games to reach in 2006, while the three goals they have scored has already surpassed the number of times they found the net in 12 games of football last season.

Much of that has to do with the introduction of Indra into the team, a signing that has proven astute given that the 30-year-old's three goals have made him his side's only scorer to date, but coach Jorg Steinebrunner is unconcerned by the lack of goals coming from other members of his team.

“I’d be more worried if we don’t score,” said the affable German with a chuckle.

“If we score, it doesn’t matter (who scores). On the team side, we have enough players who can score goals, and some have been unfortunate not to score.

“Like Murphy (Wiredu), who in the last two games has hit the post twice.

“Abdoul(aye Diallo) also had some efforts, narrowly missing the target, and even Hiro(yuki Yamamoto) has hit the post twice.

“So as a team, we could have scored more with a bit more luck. As a team, for Indra, it is something we are very happy about.”

The former Woodlands Wellington coach had nothing but praise for his former Home United marksman, whose goals have brought him among the early leaders of the goalscoring charts, but who had his fair share of detractors before the season began.

“A lot of people have doubted his ability, and I think he has given the right answer with three goals in two games.

“He is the joint top scorer in the league, and it says a lot about the team, and how the team is helping him.

“Many said he was finished, but for me he is not finished; it is not only his goalscoring, but also what he does for the team.

“He is a fantastic character, and I really enjoy working with him. It is the first time I’ve had the chance to work with him, and it has been a joy.

“His getting other players into the team, even his defending… (his contribution) is tremendous.

“I spoke to a few people at the end of the Geylang game, and they said that they have never seen him working so hard and enjoying his game as much as he did against Geylang.

“I think Singapore football will benefit from Indra for many years to come.”

Steinebrunner also expressed his pleasure at being ahead of the Stags before the match, but pointed out that it is still early in the season yet.

“We still have a long way to go.

“We can only say it is a job well done at the end of the year, when we have achieved our targets.

“It is always good to be in a positive position, in a situation to look forward to good things. We have had a positive start, and the games and performances have been getting better and better.

“Looking at our position in front of Tampines at the moment, it is nice, but we would like to be in front of them at the end of the match!

“But we still have a lot of work to do, although we are on the right track to achieve the long-term targets at the end of the year.”

Tampines, meanwhile, have proven themselves masters of the draw.. The Stags opened their 2009 accounts by sharing points with Home United and a revamped Rams outfit, but few would have had their money on Balestier Khalsa ending their match with the Stags on level terms.

The run of draws caps the worst start for Tampines since 2002, when they managed only two points after three games - but then the Easterners went on to finish fourth at the end of that season, and happened to have played the eventual top three in those opening three fixtures.

They will be desperate to get a winning run going with a first victory of the season, especially after having surrendered the lead in their last two outings, but will have to take on Sengkang without national midfielder Fahrudin Mustafic, whose post-match dismissal against Woodlands Wellington sees him miss his second game.

For Sengkang, Zahid Ahmad is back in training, which leaves Steinebrunner with an embarrassment of riches – the German has a full squad to choose from for Monday night’s game.