SINGAPORE - The Lions will have to face a team 58 rungs above them in the pecking order of world football, and they will have to climb 1,900m above sea-level for that privilege.
When Singapore (ranked 131) face China (No 73) in Kunming for their opening Group A fixture in the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, they will need time - at least five days - for their bodies to acclimatise and be able to perform normally at such high altitudes.
And S-League clubs with national players are unanimous in their support to help the Lions breathe easier in Kunming as Singapore aim to make history by making it through to the final group stage of the qualifiers.
Radojko Avramovic's charges will also face Jordan and Iraq in Group A, with the top two teams moving into the fourth and final round.
Home United have five players in Avramovic's squad, three each have come from Tampines Rovers and SAFFC, while Gombak United and Tanjong Pagar United each contributed a player to the cause.
And all the above clubs have promised to support the national cause.
Nine national players hailed from the Courts Young Lions, while Shahril Ishak from Indonesia's Medan Chiefs made up the 23-man squad that beat Malaysia 6-4 over two legs.
Despite holding just a two-point lead over Tampines atop the S-League standings, Home have pledged their support to the national cause, if schedule changes are implemented.
Said Home general manager S Mahalingam: "We will allow our players to join up with the national team for a longer period of time if that would help them. Our players have shown that when they come back from national duty, they are fitter and raring to go."
Today understands that arrangements are being made for S-League fixtures to be rescheduled to aid the clubs' cause, and Mahalingam is hopeful that it will come to pass.
"I'm confident our fixtures will be adjusted accordingly so we can continue our form in the league," he added.
Said SAFFC coach Richard Bok: "The groupings for the World Cup qualifiers mean that we have a fighting chance of making it to the fourth round for the first time and we will support the cause.
"Of course we will miss our national players, but like suspensions and injuries to players, this is part and parcel of football. We of course hope that there will be a rescheduling of games to help the clubs."
Tampines coach Steven Tan echoed the sentiments of fellow title challengers SAFFC and Home, while Gombak chairman John Yap expressed the hope that a successful Lions side will see support for the league rise in proportion.
"If the national team do well in the third round, there could be realisation that local football is of a good standard, having provided the breeding ground and producing these players."
When Singapore (ranked 131) face China (No 73) in Kunming for their opening Group A fixture in the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, they will need time - at least five days - for their bodies to acclimatise and be able to perform normally at such high altitudes.
And S-League clubs with national players are unanimous in their support to help the Lions breathe easier in Kunming as Singapore aim to make history by making it through to the final group stage of the qualifiers.
Radojko Avramovic's charges will also face Jordan and Iraq in Group A, with the top two teams moving into the fourth and final round.
Home United have five players in Avramovic's squad, three each have come from Tampines Rovers and SAFFC, while Gombak United and Tanjong Pagar United each contributed a player to the cause.
And all the above clubs have promised to support the national cause.
Nine national players hailed from the Courts Young Lions, while Shahril Ishak from Indonesia's Medan Chiefs made up the 23-man squad that beat Malaysia 6-4 over two legs.
Despite holding just a two-point lead over Tampines atop the S-League standings, Home have pledged their support to the national cause, if schedule changes are implemented.
Said Home general manager S Mahalingam: "We will allow our players to join up with the national team for a longer period of time if that would help them. Our players have shown that when they come back from national duty, they are fitter and raring to go."
Today understands that arrangements are being made for S-League fixtures to be rescheduled to aid the clubs' cause, and Mahalingam is hopeful that it will come to pass.
"I'm confident our fixtures will be adjusted accordingly so we can continue our form in the league," he added.
Said SAFFC coach Richard Bok: "The groupings for the World Cup qualifiers mean that we have a fighting chance of making it to the fourth round for the first time and we will support the cause.
"Of course we will miss our national players, but like suspensions and injuries to players, this is part and parcel of football. We of course hope that there will be a rescheduling of games to help the clubs."
Tampines coach Steven Tan echoed the sentiments of fellow title challengers SAFFC and Home, while Gombak chairman John Yap expressed the hope that a successful Lions side will see support for the league rise in proportion.
"If the national team do well in the third round, there could be realisation that local football is of a good standard, having provided the breeding ground and producing these players."
No comments:
Post a Comment