Top 5 tough for LionsXII Johor FC coach says young players need to step up

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SINGAPORE - He remembers playing at the National Stadium when he turned out for Negri Sembilan in the Malaysia Cup, and the one match that sticks out like a sore thumb in his memory is a 5-0 thrashing the Lions handed them in 1983 amid the Kallang Roar.

Despite that painful memory, K Devan, who played in central defence for the state from 1981 to 1989, welcomes with open arms Singapore's return to Malaysian football competitions after an absence of 17 years.

Now coach of Johor FC, the 50-year-old said the LionsXII will generate the kind of atmosphere fans across the Causeway have been craving for.

Players the likes of Quah Kim Song, Samad Allapitchay, Dollah Kassim, Fandi Ahmad and V Sundramoorthy from the 1970s to the 1990s filled stadiums not only here but wherever they played in Malaysia.

But that dipped when Singapore made their exit after winning the league and Malaysia Cup double in 1994.

Speaking to the media last night after his side lost 1-0 to the LionsXII at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Devan said there is overwhelming support for Singapore's return to the Malaysia Super League (MSL).

"We have die-hard fans who want Singapore back, we want the same atmosphere like before. So we all welcome the decision to have the LionsXII playing in our league," he said.

"Also, as your national team is doing well, as far as ASEAN is concerned, and their ranking is above Malaysia, these factors will pull their crowds to all our matches with the LionsXII."

But while the Johor FC coach congratulated the victors last night, he warned that V Sundramoorthy's side will not have it easy in the MSL. While they look to be among the top seven of 14 teams in the competition, Devan said it will be tough for the LionsXII to finish among the top five.

"There are a few established players who are capable of deciding the outcome of the games, they are the ones who are making all the moves on the field. Overall, the younger players need to get better.

"Judging from tonight's performance, it will be a tough campaign for them. Kelantan are a good side, so are Selangor and Terengganu. So, personally, I think the LionsXII have to get better."

Devan, who previously coached Selangor to the 2009 and 2010 MSL titles, took over the reins of Johor FC last November and have changed half the side for the 2012 season.

They finished seventh last year and, after slightly more than a month of preparation, he feels his team will still need to raise their fitness level and will not make a big impact in the league in the short term.

Plans to hire three foreigners also fell through and, with only locals in the team, he was cautious about making any predictions for Johor FC.

"We still need a strategy and a game plan. If we can stay in the top five after 11 matches, I think we will finish in a strong position at the end of the season," said Devan.