Competition: Young Lions vs Paya Lebar Punggol
FC
Date & Time: 21 April 2005 7:30:00 PM
Venue: Yishun
One is on a slide while the other has never known what it's like to
get off the ground. When the Young Lions meet cellar-dwellers Paya
Lebar Punggol this Thursday, expect a see-sawing battle as both
teams bid to reverse their fortunes.
The Young Lions have slid down the table after getting just a point
out of their last nine following losses to Geylang United (0-1),
Woodlands Wellington (2-3) and a draw with SAFFC (2-2).
Last weeks loss at the hands, or rather claws, of the Geylang
Eagles, condemned the Cubs to their 3rd loss in 6 games - hardly
championship material as compared to the frontrunners of this
seasons campaign.
Their new home ground - the Yishun Stadium - has not been a happy
hunting ground as compared to their previous den, Jalan Besar.
There, the Young Lions were near-invincible last year but at
Yishun, they have yet to win.
What better chance than this Thursday, against the league's still
point-less team Paya Lebar?
The departure of defensive backs Shaiful Esah and Farizal Basri,
along with pacy winger Mustaqim Manzur, might explain the current
quandary that the team has led themselves into.
However, this seasons reinforcements arent exactly shabby. Former
SAF hitman Ashrin Shariff has been a wonderful replacement for the
injured Agu Casmir, scoring four goals to be the Cubs leading
scorer.
Imran Sahib may have made a defensive error that cost his side 3
points against the Eagles last week, but the former Home United
midfielder, who came to the fore last season with the Protectors,
is undoubtedly a gifted player.
He may not have the pace of his colleagues, Itimi Dickson or Greg
Nwokolo, down the flanks but he more than makes up for it with
his sublime touches and passing, if given the chance.
Hence, it is perhaps only a matter of time before Fandi Ahmads
side can get a good run of results consistently to challenge for
some silverware this season.
In order to start doing that, the Cubs will have to overcome a
determined Paya Lebar side that wants to break their 6-game losing
streak.
The Seahorses previous game against Tampines Rovers may have at
least shown that the side has matured defensively, but their
attacking verve leaves much to be desired.
Forward Protais Bessalas over-the-top argument with referee Abas
Daud regarding Tampines goal led to his expulsion in the game
but even if he was to stay on the field, it didnt look as though
he could change the Seahorses fortunes up front.
Now that Protais is suspended for this game, the Seahorses hopes
lie squarely on the shoulders of two of their best attacking hopes,
Serbian Kenan Ragipovic and Chinese Li Jisheng.
Kenans deep runs from midfield, coupled with Lis sweet left foot,
could provide the key to unlocking a stable Young Lions
defence.
Custodian Zulkifli Zainolabidins man-of-the-match performance is
also one of the positives that the Seahorses can take with them
when they travel to the Yishun Stadium.
Had it not been for the 25-year-olds heroics at the Tampines
Stadium, the Stags could have easily ran riot with a much bigger
scoreline than the 2-0 result that they got in the end.
The Young Lions will be his next big test and it will probably take
a Herculean effort on Zulkifli's part, along with the rest of his
team mates, to get something out of this game.
If he can pull off another five-star performance, Paya Lebar could
finally get their first point in S-League history and hopefully
soon, their butts off the ground.
