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SINGAPORE : It was an unusual decision, unheard of in football. When Geylang United announced at the start of the Great Eastern-Yeo’s S.League 2009 season that they were going with a three-man coaching system, critics wondered if it was a recipe for disaster.
But three games into the season, with Brunei side DPMM visiting Bedok Stadium for Thursday’s S.League clash, tongues are no longer wagging.
The “Three Wise Men of Geylang” - former internationals Lim Tong Hai and Seak Poh Leong, and former national women’s team coach Mike Wong - are doing something right.
Geylang’s coaches haven’t been afraid to experiment on the pitch, abandoning their traditional 4-4-2 formation for a 3-5-2 system. They opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Albirex Niigata.
Although they lost their next match 2-0 at defending champions SAFFC, the Eagles bounced back and were a little unfortunate not to have left Sengkang Punggol with all three points, after the home side fought back to draw 2-2. The most conspicuous difference in this year’s Geylang team is the positive mood among the players.
Last season, the squad would sit around the stadium in various cliques while waiting for training sessions at Bedok Stadium to begin.
On Wednesday, the Eagles looked united, like a team.
The foreign players mingled freely with the local lads, the veterans joked with the rookies and the Prime League squad players. Baihakki Khaizan was making new signing Lloyd Butler feel at home, even offering him a pair of boots.
- TODAY/il
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