March 24, 2004
Singapore could be without their 1st & 2nd choice goalkeeper & be left with only a 3rd choice goalkeeper for the clash against Japan.
Goalkeeper have always Singapore's strongest department but national coach Raddy Avramovic's main concern is that only only Rezal Hassan is available as Lionel Lewis & Hassan Sunnyhave been called up for national service.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) are so concerned about the problem that they are appealing for Hassan Sunny who is Singapore 1st choice to be released, even if it is just for training sessions.
Raddy Avramovic stated he hope the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will accede to their request because there is really no choice.
With the national team assembling on Friday for centralised training, the coach will not have much time to try and get his 1st choice goalkeeper on a football field instead of an army one.
There is little chance for Lionel Lewis, who was drafted into the Singapore Police Force (SPF) only yesterday, as he is also undergoing centralised training to be released for the match.
With just Tampines Rovers' Rezal Hassan who, at the young age of 29, is no longer the agile and commanding figure he was when he burst on the scene more than 10 years ago.
FAS could turn to Shahril Jantan (Geylang United) & Adi Saleh (Singapore Armed Forces FC), both of whom have tasted international football but given Hassan Sunny is only the goalkeeper who can turn in an assured performance, Avramovic will not want to change his goalkeeper unless he is forced to.
Against India last month when Hassan Sunny was beaten only by a penalty in a 0-1 defeat & his performance give the backline much confidence during the match.
Raddy Avramovic admitted only Hassan Sunny in the best form among all the goalkeepers & he is needed against Japan as with him manning the goal, the defence will be more confident against a world-class team.