Among the 15 trophies on offer in local professional football since 2015, Albirex Niigata have won 13 of them, completing three straight clean sweeps since 2016 in an era of dominance never seen here.
But, before tonight's Community Shield curtain raiser, has the first signs of weakness appeared for the team that clinched the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title last year without losing a game?
Last week, Albirex were thumped 4-0 by Tampines Rovers in a pre-season friendly.
The defeat was notable as the White Swans had played a strong XI, barring new 2.05m forward Makito Hatanaka.
The club's new head coach Keiji Shigetomi said: "Tampines are a very strong team with many national players. They will be title contenders this year.
"Even though we lost 4-0, it was a very good lesson for us. I learnt more about my team and we will be ready for the Community Shield."
NEW CHALLENGES
Last season, we didn't lose any match, but we have only four members of that squad who are still with us. And we have (six) Singaporean players with us, it will be a more difficult challenge for us.
KEIJI SHIGETOMI, Albirex Niigata's new head coach, on the season ahead.
Albirex will meet SPL runners-up Home United tonight at the Jalan Besar Stadium (6pm).
Shigetomi's men had won their other sparring matches (2-0 against Hougang United and 6-0 against the Singapore Under-18s), but face a tough task rebuilding after new league rules dictate that the Japanese club have to sign a minimum of four local players, and have to start with at least two every game.
Shigetomi said: "Our target is to win all the titles, but the team are new and we have to work very hard. Last season, we didn't lose any match, but we have only four members of that squad who are still with us.
"And we have (six) Singaporean players with us, it will be a more difficult challenge for us. But we will take one game at a time and not look too far."
From last year's all-conquering side, the White Swans have kept only midfielder Hiroyoshi Kamata and the defensive trio of Shuhei Sasahara, Kaishu Yamazaki and Kodai Sumikawa while Singaporeans Hyrulnizam Juma'at, Gerald Ang, Noor Akid, Firas Irwan, Zamani Zamri and Martens Daniel will don the orange jersey this season.
Shigetomi said: "The change in regulations affected our team a lot. The overall age of the squad has also been reduced.
"A lot of the players may not have the necessary experience yet. It will be a challenge."
As Albirex try to maintain their winning formula in the SPL, new Home coach Saswadimata Dasuki is plotting to end the Protectors' 16-year title drought.
He said: "Our target is to win the (league) title, but we know that Tampines and Albirex are very strong and Hougang (United) have beefed up their squad.
"It's not going to be easy, but the target is there. We finished second last year and we want to take one step further this year."
Home had also conducted an efficient recruitment drive, snapping up former Albirex forward and SPL Young Player of the Year Adam Swandi.
The 23-year-old striker will cast emotions aside when he faces his former team tonight.
Adam said: "It's a very difficult position for me because Albirex really groomed me into a better player and person.
"I want to thank them for the opportunity, but football is football, you go to different teams in different seasons.
"I now have to fight for the crest on my chest and I want to give 100 per cent to get the Community Shield."
Wang Meng Meng
Report Ad
Buy Hamilton Musical Tickets Today. Find Broadway & Theatre Tickets Online.
It's now or never for the Gunners, but they can't get out of defence! or maybe Ramsey will be brought on with the Gunners needing a combative spark in midfield. More misery for Arsenal
Spark Plug Gap - NGK Spark Plugs - Tech Video - YouTube
Bayern vs Liverpool: Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk see Reds reach Champions League last eight. Bayern Munich 1-3 Liverpool: The ease with which Liverpool eventually beat Bayern shouldn't take
Soccer-Liverpool ease past Bayern 3-1 to reach last eight
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Open Mobile Menu. Manage Your SmarTrip Account
Next Restaurant
France coach: Women in football face daily battle. 2018, France women's football team coach Corinne Diacre (right) and Eastern football club head coach Chan Yuen-ting pose after an Eastern
Reds the hungrier facet, says Van Dijk. waka March 3, 2019. 0 0 2 minutes read. Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn StumbleUpon Tumblr Pinterest Reddit VKontakte
Virgil van Dijk Says Champions League Win 'Just the Start' of
Gareth Bale's agent says the Wales international remains '100 per cent' committed to Real Madrid. Bale has been persistently linked with a move away from the Bernabeu this season, having
Bale '100 percent' committed to Real claims agent | Sport24
Sigurdur Ragnar Eyjolfsson will insist that it is possible to taste success as he throws his name into the hat for the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) technical director position, which is
Football: New FAS technical director Joseph Palatsides
Hammers pack a punch: Klopp LONDON • West Ham may have a raft of injury problems, with a number of key players either missing or rated touch and go, but Jurgen Klopp is not taking their trip to the London Stadium lightly as their opponents are "nearly a top-six side".
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool players needed hammer to 'punch
Ranieri Lined Up as Roma Sack Di Francesco After Champions League Flop Eusebio Di Francesco was sacked as Roma coach after the team crashed out of the Champions League, the Italian club confirmed on Thursday, with former boss Claudio Ranieri tipped to replace him.
Football: Ranieri lined-up as Roma sack Di Francesco after
complacency definition: 1. a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder: 2. a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder: .
Driving - No Room for Complacency!
144 reviews of Minnow Baltimore "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly The Good: I took my mother out for Mother's Day Dinner and couldn't have had a better time! They marry and cocktail bar and Mediterranean fusion restaurant perfectly.
4 Ways to Live Like a European - wikiHow
Spain get better of Sweden as Ireland labour against Gibraltar The result means Luis Enrique's side have the maximum 12 points from four matches and are five points ahead of Sweden and Romania
Portugal vs. Serbia - Football Match Report - March 25, 2019
Spurs need to 'believe' "We need to assess Dele in the next few days, but the hamstring is a muscle that you need to be careful with - in terms of the mechanism of the injury," he said.
Heel Spurs: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
0 comments:
Post a Comment