SINGAPORE, Feb 6 (Reuters) - With a third Asean
championship title in the bag, Singapore's soccer chiefs are sure
of one thing -- their heart belongs to Raddy.
Inspirational coach Raddy Avramovich led his charges to a dramatic
two-legged victory over Thailand at the weekend for Singapore's
third regional title and the city state's soccer officials are
desperate to hang on to their man.
Avramovich, though, has been cagey about his plans ever since
Sunday's second-leg clincher in Bangkok.
"Two years is a long time and you never know," was the
57-year-old's enigmatic reply to reporters' questions on whether he
would be at the helm in 2009 when Singapore defend their
crown.
Avramovich did say, however, that his immediate priorities were the
2008 Olympic qualifiers, the team's challenge at the SEA Games in
December in Thailand and preparations for Singapore's 2010 World
Cup qualifiers, which kick off early next year.
Ho Peng Kee is also in no doubt what the Football Association of
Singapore's priority must be. "Raddy has done well for Singapore
and has helped us remain champions of South-east Asia for the
second consecutive tournament," the body's president told
Singapore's Today tabloid.
"We have something good going and we will have to do what it takes
to keep him in Singapore."Ho fully endorsed Avramovich's policy of
pushing his team to challenge ever stronger opposition.
"Raddy has always said
they have to be exposed to top level
games. He was right. The experience of playing top teams like Iraq
and China and going to the Asian Games in Doha (has) helped the
boys.
"It gave them the belief that they would prevail and instilled in
them a never-say-die attitude."
