Competition: Tampines Rovers FC vs Home United
FC
Date & Time: 29 April 2005 7:00:00 PM
Venue: Tampines
Muratovic return to tip clash of the titans?
Without him, Tampines Rovers still set the pace for much of the
first round. So how much more can the defending champions do now
that they have their best defender Sead Muratovic back?
Potentially, a lot. Although the Stags have been churning out
results in his absence, his command of the defence and thunderous
freekicks have been sorely missed.
Not surprisingly, coach Vorawan Chitavanich has said that the
26-year-old will be pencilled into the first-team after finally
passing his Beep test.
Muratovic, the stylish Serb, has also been fitter, shedding several
kilogrammes in his attempts to meet the mandatory Beep test mark of
12-6.
So, theoretically, just imagine Muratovic, that composed figure in
defence but faster and fitter than circa 2004's and possibly even
the previous years'.
With him back, last seasons Young Player of the Year Mustafic
Fahrudin can be moved up to augment the midfield.
It is another option that Vorawan will welcome with open arms. For
he has been bothered with opponents starting to pack their defence
against his side.
He said: This season, when teams play against Tampines, they tend
to be more defensive. They are giving us much less space and are
definitely more cautious.
We are playing with more confidence, but this confidence is a
double-edged sword. On the other hand, we must not be
over-confident and underestimate weaker opponents.
As such, Vorawan paid the respect reserved for a worthy opponent.
He said: Home is a very strong team with a lot of experienced
players. Although we have beaten them at home last season, they are
always very difficult to play against.
Home will continue to play without Thai international Sutee
Susomkit, who is expected to be out for another month due to a
reported ankle injury.
His absence has given ex-international Azhar Baksin the chance to
reinstate his place.
Last week, Azhar gave one of his best performances since returning
from a double knee operation against Woodlands Wellington and was
bestowed the S-League.com Man-of-the-Match award in that 4-0
win.
While the Rams were ripped apart by the Protectors with relative
ease, expect the Stags to put up a much more resilient defence.
With a partisan home crowd behind them, Vorawan expects a good
performance from the Stags. He said: I am confident of at least a
draw.
Last season, Home United chased Tampines all the way until the
Stags finally sealed their historic first-ever league title. In
this very fixture last term, Tampines defeated the Protectors 2-1
in a high tempo match, en route to winning the title. In
retrospect, that victory must have been one of the Stags most
crucial.
This season, both teams had experienced somewhat different
fortunes.
The Stags picked up from where they left off last season and
charged ahead in the standings early on with five wins in their
first six games. The hiccup at Toa Payoh Stadium last week had been
the only botch in Tampines otherwise near-perfect domestic
season.
On the other hand, the boys from Bishan had only found their
winning touch recently. However, with two straight domestic
victories, the Protectors are beginning to erase memories of their
jittery start and propelled themselves straight back into the race
to the title.
Tampines will return to top spot with just a point. Will it happen?
We're not so sure.
What we're more certain of: Somewhere in Bishan, Steve Darby is
shaking his head at his monitor as he reads this.