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SINGAPORE — Singapore nationwide soccer staff head coach Takayuki Nishigaya is ready to guide the Lions on the Nationwide Stadium, Singapore Sports activities Hub for the primary time since taking up the reins in Could final 12 months. The 158th ranked staff will play two friendlies in opposition to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands on Jun 15 and June 18 respectively, with each matches beginning at 7.30pm.
Papua New Guinea is one rank beneath the Lions, whereas the Solomon Islands are in the next place at 134. Of their earlier encounters, Singapore beat Papua New Guinea 2-1 in 2014, and received 4-3 in opposition to the Solomon Islands in 2019. Not a lot is thought about Singapore’s opponents. However the Solomon Islands have recalled European-based participant Raphael Lea’i to the squad. He’s the primary Solomon Islands participant to signal with an expert European membership, and is at the moment enjoying within the Bosnian Premier League with FK Velez Mostar.
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The Lions had been in motion earlier this 12 months enjoying two away friendlies in March. They had been held to a 1-1 draw by Hong Kong and received 1-0 in opposition to Macau. Singapore final performed on the Nationwide Stadium in March 2022 after they hosted the Tri-Nation Sequence, profitable 2-1 and 2-0 in opposition to Malaysia and the Philippines respectively.
Confidence in native soccer might have taken successful following the nationwide staff’s exit from the 2022 AFF Championship, in addition to the poor efficiency of the Younger Lions on the latest SEA Video games in Cambodia. Now, with the Soccer Affiliation of Singapore arranging two pleasant matches in opposition to less-fancied nationwide groups, the query arises: will followers flip as much as help the Lions on the 55,000 capability Nationwide Stadium?
Whereas there’ll undoubtedly be pockets of die-hard Singapore soccer followers who proceed to purchase tickets to those matches as a present of help for the gamers and the nationwide staff, it stays to be seen whether or not the broader public will observe go well with. However finally what does coach Nishigaya hope to realize in these two matches?
In an interview posted on FAS web site, the pinnacle coach mentioned, “..there aren’t any straightforward video games at worldwide degree and my problem to the gamers was to enhance every day and to place in a constant degree of efficiency again within the Singapore Premier League to struggle for his or her locations within the Nationwide Crew. We have to have robust competitors for locations within the Nationwide Crew as that’s a technique for us to enhance.”
Coach Nishigaya added, “This June window additionally provides me the chance to see up shut some new faces within the nationwide staff setting, and therefore I’ve additionally referred to as up the 5 new debutantes. This may solely be good for the way forward for the nationwide staff in the long term.”
The Singapore nationwide staff head coach has named 5 new gamers in his 26-man squad, they’re Balestier Khalsa goalkeeper Hairul Syirhan, Hougang United defender Jordan Vestering, Tanjong Pagar United midfielders Fathullah Rahmat and Naqiuddin Eunos, and Younger Lions captain Harhys Stewart. Among the many common faces who’re referred to as again to the squad are Hariss Harun, Shah Shahiran, Shakir Hamzah, Adam Swandi, Amy Recha, and Shawal Anuar, all missed out for the Hong Kong and Macau journey earlier within the 12 months.
The gamers will report for centralised coaching on Monday, June 12 as they put together to tackle the 2 groups later within the week. Coach Nishigaya expects a extra strong recreation and bodily recreation as he has analyse movies of each groups.
“Their gamers have particular person energy and pace, and we’ll have to be ready to counter that. It’s all the time good for our staff to be uncovered to completely different types of play and these two opponents will provide us a superb take a look at,” added coach Nishigaya.
Whereas there could also be criticism and one might ponder whether Singapore will profit by enjoying in opposition to these staff, within the phrases of Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, allow us to “not solely belief the method, however to additionally take part in it in order that Singapore’s soccer will be capable of ‘Unleash the Roar.’” So let the Lions roam free and present their power on the sector subsequent week on the Nationwide Stadium, and ship the outcomes that our native soccer followers need.
Beneath is the Singapore nationwide soccer staff squad for the pleasant matches in opposition to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
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