| Wednesday, 30 September, 1998 Back |
| See what 'faith' has done to Steven |
 A new coach means new faith. Ask Steven Tan. The super-sub is now a "regular" with Tanjong Pagar United and the goals he has scored are an indication as to how much he relishes his new role.
BY S GULAM HAT-TRICK hero, Steven Tan, last night dedicated his goals to his coach, Tohari Paijan. "My previous coach, Robert Alberts, didn't have any faith in me," he said. "He saw me only as a super-sub. But Haji (Tohari) has had more faith in me. He gave me the chance to appear in the starting line-up and, I believe, I repaid that faith." Last night Steven more than repaid that faith. He was devastating. "I've never enjoyed the game so much," he said. "Haji told me that I could make it and, thanks to him, I made it. "In fact, I'm playing the best football of my life." So, the question: With last night's hat-trick under his belt and his 15-goal tally for the tournament, does the Jaguar striker see himself as a leading contender for the top-scorer award? After all, his 15 goals has him at the top among local scorers - ahead of more illustrious strikers like Fandi Ahmad, V Selvaraj, Rafi Ali, Latiff Kamaruddin and V Sundramoorthy. "It is not something that's on my mind right now," he said. "I would rather see Tanjong Pagar win the Cup. REGULAR BASIS "We need something on the shelf. But, looking back, I wish I could have played on a more regular basis. "Maybe then, I would by now be leading the goalscorers' chart." Now, for the second question: Is he hoping to be recalled to the national squad? "I wasn't surprised when Barry (Whitbread) dropped me. Like Alberts, he too had no faith in me. "But now things are different. There's a new coach in Vincent Subramaniam and I'm sure he will view my performances more positively and with an open mind. "Would I like to be back in the national fold? Well, let's put it this way. I'm ready. More today than ever before."
STEVEN Tan never had it so good. His career-threatening knee injury is behind him. He's now established himself as a first-choice with Tanjong Pagar United, throwing the "super-sub" tag to the dustbin. The goals are flowing. His hat-trick last night virtually assured the Jaguars a place in the semi-finals of the Tiger Beer Singapore Cup. Even Woodlands Wellington team manager, R‚Vengadasalam had no doubt as to who made the difference last night. "Steven destroyed us. He was simply too fast and too sharp for us," he said. The Jaguars team manager Abol Fazl said: "He showed yet again that he's the best striker in the country." "Let's throw this super-sub tag into the dustbin. Steven has proven that he belongs in the First XI," said coach Tohari Paijan. However, Steven's greatest joy will come in two weeks' time when his wife, Nicole, delivers their first child. "I didn't score against Balestier Central because Nicole wasn't around. She was here tonight and I got it right," said Steven. |
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