Source
SINGAPORE - They moved in sync in the middle of the park, setting up an iron curtain in front of the defence at the Jalan Besar Stadium and on the Bukit Jalil green last month.
Singapore central midfielders Hariss Harun and Mustafic Fahrudin were in fine form in both legs of the second round World Cup qualifiers against Malaysia, providing a sturdy platform for Singapore's 6-4 aggregate win over their old football foes.
They were key figures in Singapore's charge into the third round of the qualifiers, but come Sept 2 when the Lions open their Group A campaign against China in Kunming, Radojko Avramovic could well be without his preferred central midfield duo.
Hariss is only into the second week of an eight-week Basic Police Training course, having enlisted for National Service on Aug 10. Mustafic has yet to kick a ball this week, having sustained a knee injury when he turned out for Tampines Rovers in an S-League clash against Hougang United.
"If we miss Fahrudin and Hariss, it will be a big blow for the team, but I just hope that some players that I have in my mind can do the job," said Avramovic, ahead of the Lions' first training session at the Geylang Field last night.
"We must try to adapt, there are 12 days to the (China) game, and there is hope (Fahrudin) will feel better, if not we must look for solutions,"
Avramovic and his charges will depart for Bangkok on Monday to face Thailand in a final warm-up ahead of their Group A opener against China.
With a brace on his left knee, Mustafic still looked uncomfortable jogging yesterday. He hurt the meniscus in his left knee, but the 30-year-old remained hopeful.
"The important thing is that the swelling has gone down ... and there is no pain. (Today) I will see the doctor and we'll see if I can join the team.
"Most probably, I will not play against Thailand, but I hope I can be ready for China," said Mustafic. "There are many good players here, Isa (Halim), Shi Jiayi, even Shahril Ishak can do the job."
In the absence of Hariss and Mustafic, Avramovic could deploy a new-look central midfield duo, likely to be the Home United pair of Isa and Shi.
If he gets the nod, Isa is determined to grasp the opportunity.
Said the 25-year-old: "I just have to push hard in training and grab any opportunities that come. Hariss and Fahrudin are both good players, they did very well against Malaysia, but the squad has 25 players, and it's up to the rest of us to rise to the occasion."
Hariss was absent from training yesterday, and Gombak United duo Hamqaamal Shah and Ismail Yunos were away on club duty. Aleksandar Duric was given the day off after the 41-year-old played a gruelling 120 minutes of football on Thursday in Tampines' loss to Home United in an RHB Singapore Cup quarter-final.
The mood was upbeat last night, as the Lions tried out hypoxicators - a medical device aimed at helping them acclimatise to the thin air of Kunming, which is around 1,900m above sea level.
The players welcomed back goalkeeper Lionel Lewis, who has shrugged off a groin injury.
Said Mustafic: "We were full of confidence against Malaysia, and the confidence is still high. That feeling that we had in the win against Malaysia, everyone of us wants to experience again. The boys cannot wait to be together again, and we're looking forward to the game."
We have move to here!
WE HAVE MOVE TO HERE! CLICK ON THE LINK. :D
No comments:
Post a Comment