AFC Cup MD3: Group H Preview

With Vietnam internationals Doan Viet Cuong and Phan Van Tai Em already both long term injury concerns, defender Le Hai Anh and midfielder Nguyen Rogerio have also been ruled out.

And with Sai Gon looking add to last month’s win over Singapore’s Tampines Rover and draw with India’s East Bengal, Uganda international Moses Oloya has also not returned after featuring in last month’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Liberia.

“We will be missing five important players for this game. This is a real problem for us, but I believe the other players will play well,” said Tien Dai.
“Selangor are a good team, especially Francis (Doe) who is a very powerful striker. But they also have some difficulties because they will have to play another game this week in the Malaysian Cup.

“We will be playing at home so we will try out best to win to reach the next stage of the tournament.”

Opposite number Irfan Bakti, meanwhile, has headaches of his own with Selangor also facing Darul Takzim in the Malaysian Cup quarter-final first leg on Saturday.

Selangor picked up their first point of the campaign last time out after sharing a 3-3 draw at home with Tampines having lost 1-0 in India to East Bengal.

“Sai Gon are a strong opponent and they will be playing at home which is an advantage,” said Bakti.

“They have four points and we only have one, so if we win, we will erase this difference.

“For me, the AFC Cup and FA Cup are the same so we will prepare for both games. It will be tough, but not impossible.”

Also on Wednesday, coach Trevor Morgan is hoping joint Group H leaders East Bengal can put themselves into a solid position to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 2004 when the Indian Federation Cup holders take on S.League champions Tampines.

Morgan arrived in Singapore on Sunday morning with a 20-man squad, with Gurwinder Singh the only injury concern after the centre-back suffered a knock in training.

“We have made a good start with four points from our first two games and I think that if we can take something from tomorrow’s game, we will be in a good position to qualify from this group which would be a wonderful achievement,” said Morgan, who coached S.League side Sengkang Punggol from 2005 to 2007.

“Tampines Rovers have always been a good side especially when I was coaching against them in the S-League. But we are also doing quite well in our own competitions in India right now and we are confident that we can get a result.

“We had quite a busy schedule with eight games in 24 days so this trip has been good because we have had five days in Singapore, which has given us a bit of a rest. So the players are well rested and looking forward to the game.”

Tampines, meanwhile, will be without suspended captain Fahruddin Mustafic although winger Jamil Ali looks set to return from a hamstring injury while midfielder Firdaus Kasman is available after completing a national service stint as Nenad Bacina’s side look to add to their solitary point in the AFC Cup having won six matches in a row in the S.League.

“Mathematically, East Bengal have the advantage right now because they have four points and we have only one. Tomorrow’s game gives us a chance to catch up with them but we are definitely in a position where we must go for the three points,” said coach Bacina.

“This is the AFC Cup and any club that has qualified for this competition is a good team and deserves to be here. East Bengal are doing well in the Indian league and they have a good squad and a good coach, whom I respect because we know each other from coaching in the S.League.

“This month we have to play eight matches – four in the AFC Cup and four in the S.League. But we are a professional club and we have to do our best in every game. We are not playing in the S.League this weekend so we can forget about it at the moment and focus on the AFC Cup.

“We have a lot of good players here, many of whom have played for the national team, so they should be used to playing at a high level.”