Two foreigners with penchant for goals will star in Sunday's FA Cup final

By S. MURALI

ONE is called the Rock of Seslija and the other the Tower of Tanjong Pagar. And when the two clash in the Singapore Pools FA Cup final on Sunday at the National Stadium, expect sparks to fly.

Sembawang Rangers' Milomir "The Rock" Seslija has emerged as a serious contender for Player of the Year with a string of steady performances in the Stallions' engine room.

Add to that a rocket-like shot and a penchant for the deft dribbles and you have the recipe for a Bosnian-born match-winner.

One of those special moments came in the Tiger Beer Singapore Cup semi-final match against Singapore Armed Forces FC.

The 33-year-old player ran past four Warriors and hit a bullet past SAFFC custodian Rezal Hassan, for whom the ball must have been just a blur.

Seslija's opponent this Sunday, fighting out of the red-and-white strips of the Jaguars, standing at an amazing 1.96m, is the Tower of Tanjong Pagar United -- Nicodeme Boucher.

With his dreadlocks flowing, the recently-recalled striker has rejuvenated the Jaguars with powerful performances in front of goal, scoring 11 goals in just the second half of the season.

The best of the lot came last Saturday, when the Senegalese striker stunned 15,000 spectators, including SAFFC's Rezal (again a spectator), with a fierce volley that threatened to bust the net.

In other words, another match winner in the making.

Although Seslija might not mark Boucher on the field on Sunday -- the job was given to Razif Mahamud the last time -- the performance of these two players could mean the difference between a winner's medal and second place.

Said Boucher: "Seslija is a key player for them. I am sure that he will be a tough opponent on Sunday.

"I have seen him play in one or two games before and know that he has scored some beautiful goals.

"He is also the most experienced player in the team and that is always important in a big match."

The respect and admiration is mutual.

Said Seslija: "Boucher is a very difficult player to mark and I know that he can make a lot of difference in a game.

"His height makes him difficult to beat in the air. But we have to mark him.

"The trick will be for the players behind him to get ready and anticipate what he will do with the ball. We are prepared for this."

Apart from his height, Boucher has been very effective in shielding the ball and laying it off to co-striker Steven Tan, whose tally of 16 goals would surely credit many "assists" to the Senegalese.

Said Seslija, who prefers to play as an attacking midfielder: "I think a big reason for his success is that he has such a good supply of chances from the Tanjong Pagar team as well."

Both players were confident of their own team's chances in the final, although agreeing that the Jaguars would start as clear favourites.

Said Boucher, who turns 32 on Friday: "Our confidence is really high and I think we have the ability to win the final. I know that Sembawang will work very hard to make it tough for us but I believe that we can come out as the winners."