Avramovic relishes the pressure, Lose to Malaysia and there will be calls for his head, but Lions coach welcomes the challenge

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SINGAPORE - He greets me warmly and I respond in kind. With coffee in front of us, we immediately start talking football. I remember it was like that when I first sat down to talk to Radojko Avramovic nearly eight years ago.

When he was unveiled as Singapore's coach on July 1, 2003, this football-mad country prayed he was a messiah.

Today, many hope he will be able to mastermind a new cycle of success when the Lions take on Malaysia in Asia's second round of World Cup qualifiers, starting with the first leg tomorrow at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

It is a tasty encounter - Causeway derbies usually are - but there just seems to be extra spice surrounding this meeting.

Maybe it's because there is even more pressure on Avramovic's team to deliver after their shocking first-round exit at the AFF Suzuki Cup last December.

The Serb was heavily criticised then, as Malaysia went on to lift the ASEAN championship for the first time.

There were calls for his head. Those calls will get much louder if the Singapore team loses to Malaysia, but Avramovic is sanguine.

"I don't think about that. Right now I'm only interested in preparing the team for Saturday, and the second leg in Malaysia next Thursday," he said, as we chatted poolside at the team's headquarters at the Amara Hotel yesterday.

"What will happen after these two games, we'll just have to wait and see."

Avramovic has guided Singapore to two successive ASEAN titles.

There was a memorable win over Iraq and impressive performances against the likes of Japan and Uzbekistan.

Under his watch, the Lions also qualified for the third round of Asia's World Cup qualifiers last time out.

Suddenly, though, he is under pressure, going up against an effervescent Malaysia.

But he said: "Pressure should activate that mechanism in yourself to produce more.

"When there is no pressure, you cannot produce something special. Playing with pressure is life. It is a challenge my players and I must embrace."

Avramovic, 61, has been involved in eight Causeway derbies and only lost one, his first in 2004, when the Lions went down 2-0 in a friendly in Kuala Lumpur.

Three times he has emerged victorious via the roulette of penalty kicks, none more important than the 5-4 win on Jan 27, 2007, at the old National Stadium, which saw the Lions advance to the final and eventually saw them defend their ASEAN title when they overcame Thailand.

Many across the Causeway feel they have the edge this time round, though.

K Rajagobal has put together a young Malaysian side with boundless energy. They play at speed and their Suzuki Cup triumph last year injected confidence into the team, a priceless commodity in any sport.

There are those who believe Avramovic doesn't get on with his Malaysian counterpart.

Singapore's coach insists it is not true.

"I don't know him personally, but I respect him," said Avramovic.

"He has produced a good team and I am happy he got his chance at international level."

Avramovic says that as long as veteran defender Daniel Bennett does his job, Malaysia dangerman Safee Sali will be contained. If midfield ace Hariss Harun plays well, then he believes Rajagobal's engine room will be stifled.

But Avramovic regrets he will not have talented attacker Khairul Amri, who is out with a knee injury, for the double-header with Malaysia. A groin strain has also laid low current No 1 Lionel Lewis.

He will turn to Izwan Mahmud, the 21-year-old goalkeeper from the Courts Young Lions, for one of the biggest matches in the history of Singapore football.

With an electric atmosphere ready to greet Izwan and so much at stake, the Singapore coach is aware of the kind of weight on his young shoulders.

"I've already told him that his job is the same whether he plays against Liverpool or Tanjong Pagar - he has to stop goals," said Avramovic.

"I know it is against Malaysia, so there is an even greater feeling, but I have told all my players not to think of it as a special match, but just another game," the Singapore coach added, signalling the end of our latest football chat after two cups of coffee.

"We know them, they know us, there are no secrets.

"We are ready."