Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
COLOMBO – Coach Tin Myint Aung is determined Myanmar will not be intimidated by impressive Group B winners DPR Korea in Wednesday's AFC Challenge Cup semi-final.
Group A runners-up Myanmar are boosted by the return of influential striker Yan Paing after the commanding forward missed Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Tajikistan through suspension.
Tin, though, will be without suspended midfielder Aung Kyaw as the only ASEAN nation competing in the tournament comes up against an unbeaten DPR Korea side who posted the most impressive record in the group stage after scoring eight and conceding just one.
“We have our striker back so this is a big positive for us, but we must be prepared to play very hard, I have told the players they must do this and motivated them, they know what they have to do,” said Tin (pictured).
“We have a midfield player suspended which is an obstacle because he is a good player, but we have other players and I have adapted my plans.”
After beating Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Myanmar fell apart against Tajikistan with Tin citing a lack of concentration and knows a similar drop in performance will not acceptable against DPR Korea with a place in Saturday's final and a chance to qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup at stake.
“Korea are a very strong team,” added Tin. “
Everybody knows Korea are very strong, but we cannot take this as a fact. We must try our best and make it difficult [for them].”
Opposite number Jo Tong-sop has also recognised the threat of striker Yan, who played as DPR Korea recorded a 1-0 win over Myanmar during the group stage of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup.
“We have prepared especially for their tall striker. He is good in the air and gets in good positions,” said Jo.
“He also has good distribution to both sides to set up attacks and we have prepared how to deal with this.”
After struggling through an opening draw with Turkmenistan, DPR Korea eased to high-scoring wins over Kyrgyzstan and India to top Group B in style, but Jo is not getting carried away.
“We already know about Myanmar, we played against them during the last Challenge Cup. We will need to show our best tactics and technical ability and good team co-operation,” he added.
“Myanmar will also try and win…both teams have the same target. We must prepare to attack and defend as they also play at a fast pace and we have prepared the defence for this.”