|
Balestier Khalsa captain Zaiful Nizam hopes his side can continue to keep pace with the top four when they clash against Tampines Rovers this Wednesday in the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League. The Tigers currently sit fourth in the table after six games, with three each of victories and losses. Peculiarly, all their defeats have been followed by victories and Zaiful hopes that streak will end against the Stags. Marko Kraljevic's charges emerged 1-0 victors against Hougang United last time out and while Zaiful is satisfied with their form so far, he knows they have to avoid dropping more points. "We want to keep going against Tampines and we don't want to lose out [on] any more points if we can," he told ESPN FC ahead of training on Monday. "I think it (our record so far) is quite fair... as long as we keep the points [tally] near to the top four, it's still not bad for us. We just want to keep up with the top four." The 27-year-old goalkeeper, who has been handed the armband this season, also pointed out that being involved in their maiden AFC Cup campaign has taken its toll. "We travel a lot and when we come back, the [league] games are two or three days after... it's very tough for us," he said. "We still try to cope and try our best to maintain, try to push all the way if we can." Zaiful also cited "a lack of concentration sometimes" as a reason for them conceding goals, but praised young defenders Nurullah Hussein and Ho Wai Loon for their performances so far. The duo, both 21, have started five out of six games and established themselves as key components in the back-line despite their age and relative lack of experience - in particular left-back Ho, who has impressed enough to make the provisional 30-man SEA Games squad. "For me, they are both good-quality players and upcoming future stars," Zaiful said. "Yes, it's [been a] surprise [for me that] at their age, they can show that kind of intensity, hard work, commitment and willingness to push for the team." While their next opponents have not been doing that well themselves of late with two successive defeats, Zaiful knows Sundram's men cannot be taken lightly. Tampines were tipped as pre-season title favourites with a star-studded squad and Zaiful believes their mixed start is due to them not having gelled as a team yet. "I think it's a bit of them not having settled down because I think with their squad, they can make two [first] teams actually, with all the good quality players there," he asserted. "So I think for now... they are still finding players to play in the positions they need." But that does not mean that Zaiful and his team-mates will hold back at the Toa Payoh Stadium, with Miroslav Kristic (four goals) and Robert Pericic (two) spearheading their attack. "I think they've been doing quite well with us; both strikers have already scored so they are doing their jobs," he said of the duo, who have accounted for six of their nine league goals. "We don't want to sit back, even if it's a strong team, a quality team [that we are up against]; we will still push [for victory]." Balestier Khalsa Probable Lineup: Zaiful Nizam, Ahmad Syahir, Igor Cerina, Nurullah Hussein, Ho Wai Loon, Jonathan Xu, Emir Lotinac, Ignatius Ang, Tarik Cmajcanin, Robert Pericic, Miroslav Kristic Tampines Rovers Probable Lineup: Joey Sim, Ismadi Mukthar, Eddy Viator, Predrag Pocuca, Shaiful Esah, Fahrudin Mustafic, Roberto Alviz, Aqhari Abdullah, Firdaus Idros, Indra Sahdan, Rodrigo Tosi
|
