SINGAPORE - In six months, Hougang United have transformed themselves from wooden spoonists to dark horses for the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title.
The Cheetahs, boosted by several key signings in the off-season, face an immediate test of their title credentials in their opener - five-time champions Tampines Rovers.
To boost a blunt forward line, which saw just 22 goals in 24 games last year, they have reunited Singapore international Faris Ramli and Croatian striker Stipe Plazibat.
The duo plundered 58 goals in all competitions for Home United in 2017 before spending last season abroad at separate clubs.
They have also brought in other Lions like Hafiz Abu Sujad and Afiq Yunos, and re-signed Zulfahmi Arifin after his one season with Thai side Chonburi.
The moves have had some touting Hougang as title contenders.
It is quite a turnaround, considering that Hougang were last in the nine-team SPL last year and have never finished in the top half of the league.
Their best results were finishing runners-up in the League Cup in 2007 and 2011.
Head coach Clement Teo is confident of ending the barren run, saying: "Looking at the players we have, we know we can win silverware. But we are also aware that no games have been played yet.
"On paper, yes, we look fantastic and I have no doubt about my players' capabilities. What we need to do now is to get them to work together, on and off the field."
The club have failed to deliver on pre-season hype before.
In 2016, they signed the league's reigning Player of the Year Fumiya Kogure, only to end up sixth out of nine teams. A year later, they roped in Philippe Aw, who built a stylish Home United team over two seasons and brought with him two key men, Zulfahmi and Azhar Sairudin. Again, the Cheetahs finished sixth.
While Teo is bullish this year will be different, he expects a difficult start against Tampines, and terms his team firm underdogs for the tie.
Tampines, seen by some as favourites for the SPL crown, thrashed defending champions Albirex Niigata 4-0 in a friendly two weeks ago, and then won 3-1 at Myanmar league and Cup champions Yangon United in the AFC Cup last Tuesday.
Tampines' strongest XI are almost unchanged from last season. Hougang midfielder Fabian Kwok says that while this consistency is beneficial, he believes that Hougang are better equipped against strong teams this term.
"Last year, we had good players and were competitive in many games," said the 29-year-old, who has been with Hougang since 2017.
"But we lacked the experience, and often lost by one goal to the top teams. This year, we've signed players who are established and they bring that experience we need."
Plazibat, who scored 25 league goals in 22 games for Home in 2017, stressed that the best chance of victory today is through their strength as a unit.
"We are aware of our capabilities (as players) but individual players don't guarantee you anything, you need a team," said the 29-year-old.
"We are very serious about wanting to start the season on a high, because it will be very difficult later on if we don't collect points early.
"My target this season is to win (silverware) with the team. If I score many goals along the way, that's a bonus."
Josh Brownhill is hoping his elder brother Lewis will be a big cheese in Cheshire on Saturday - and help spur him to Wembley. For their mum and dad there is the enticing prospect of two of their
Why Tottenham Hotspur fans have always hated Wembley
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to offer hope to Real Madrid fans that he will stay at the club during his side's Champions League trophy parade on Sunday.. The 33-year-old had a quiet game in the 3-1
The weird and wonderful world of Cristiano Ronaldo's endorsements
Son Heung-min is no longer an invisible star | Tell My Sport
tellmysport.com/soccer/son-heung-min-is-no-longer-an-invisible-star/
Son Heung-min is no longer an invisible star 06/03/2019 Soccer LONDON • A half-hour or so after Tottenham Hotspur had edged out Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, the club's new stadium was all but empty.
Son Heung-min is no longer an invisible star, Football News
Football: Liverpool stun Barcelona 4-0 to reach Champions
"He's got ambition and talent. It's hard to find a player with talent that still works so hard but that's Kang-in. Those of us that know him have no doubt that he'll go all the way." -Miguel Grau (Valencia Mestalla coach) Already rated at €80 million (A$124m) by LaLiga side Valencia, 17-year-old South Korean Lee […]
LaLiga: Valencia's Korean starlet Lee Kang-in set for senior
Burnley made a big step towards securing Premier League survival after coming back from a goal down to beat Bournemouth 3-1 away as their striker Ashley Barnes scored at both ends in an action
Impressive Burnley fight back to beat Bournemouth 3-1
Latest İrfan Can Kahveci news, stats, photos and videos on MSN Sport. msn back to msn home sport football. powered by Microsoft News. web search. Skip to Navigation;
Ikhsan Fandi - Howling Pixel
Sarri refused to talk to the press after being sent off during Chelsea's draw with Burnley, with his assistant Zola claiming he was 'offended' by something said from the visitors' bench.
Chelsea report Burnley over insults aimed at Maurizio Sarri
Business BlackRock aims to be a top asset manager in China, Fink says. Investment giant sees Asia driving 50% of growth over next five years
US-China rivalry may become dangerous, Asian leaders and
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri was sent off as Burnley held them to a 2-2 draw on Monday (Pic: GETTY) "The Burnley bench had repeatedly called Sarri a 's*** Italian'" However, what made Sarri's anger boil over turned out to be the verbals from Burnley's bench towards him. A touchline brawl broke out late on in the draw in west London.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri 'offended' by insult from Burnley
Women's World Cup 2019 saw its first goalless draw as Argentina took on Japan in Paris. Women's World Cup: Dogged Argentina Hold Japan to Goalless Draw; FootBall .
Women's World Cup 2019: Argentina hold former champions Japan
Do I take the leap and work overseas? know a bit more what I should keep my eyes open for. coming in to work and take a job away from one of their citizens
#TakeTheLeap: Study Abroad Open House | Study Abroad Office
Queen in the Making is one such tool, using the Bible and its characters to illuminate the path that God had prepared for His girls. Queen in the Making is a comprehensive resource covering all aspects of girl life. From abstinence to perseverance, Queen in the Making offers Biblical solutions.
How Sansa Stark Became Queen of the North - esquire.com
Bayern Munich could battle Chelsea and Atletico Madrid for the signing of OGC Nice star Youcef Atal. The 22-year-old has been in exceptional form for his side in Ligue 1 this season, and according to a report from The Telegraph, Niko Kovac's men could be keen to make a move this summer.
Teen Mom 2: Chelsea Gets Aubree 2 Pairs of Glasses
Angel Di Maria scored a sumptuous free-kick and Kylian Mbappe was also on target as Paris Saint-Germain continued their relentless march towards another French title by hammering Montpellier 5-1 on Wednesday.
Di Maria & Mbappe Among Goals as PSG Win Big Again
watch premier league live stream hd
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch live streaming of premier league football
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch champions league live streaming now
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live india
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer live stream hunter
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch the champions league live stream
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer games live stream free
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch soccer live stream links
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch soccer live stream apk
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer live - live football streaming
tv soccer live stream sky
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming online
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming world
#beatifulgame #Fcb #streamingbolaid #oasisofficial #bayervshoffenheim #premierleague #londoncity #433skills #hotcoffee #realmadrid #league2 #tokyo #uefanationsleague #romania #BMW #oasisandbeatles #golf #crossfit #commentimemorabili #petercrouch #manchestercity #pagani #panini #england #midnight #linkstreaming #coys #vip #nikesoccer #messi #boxing #seriea #acmilan #GarageCafeDxb #thomasmeunier #cristiano #valcea #livestreams #comics #Celtic #afcnews #sumbertv #4Series #ronaldo #paulmcartney #footballdubai #livesports #soccer #mane #thebeatles #manchestercity #liverpool #frasitrap #cr7 #soccer #footballstreaming #vandijk #chocolate #soccerbible #fut #fcbarcelona #coffeebreak #24x7 #arsenal #mancity #zidane #arsenalnews #ucl
0 comments:
Post a Comment