October 25, 2004
Just 90 more minutes of football stand
between Geylang United & another shot at a place
in the history books.
The Eagles & Protectors are
already making history by being the first 2 Singapore clubs to reach the AFC Cup
semi-final but now the Eagles have the chance to be the first & possibility
only Singapore club to reach a Asian Club competition as the Protectors are
virtually out with the Bishan based club 0-4 down
from the first leg.
It is not the case for the Eagles with
them securing valuable 1-1 draw in Damascus in the first leg last week but now
they need to finish the job with the Eagles entertaining former Syrian league
champions Al Wahda, in a second leg semi-final clash
of the inaugural AFC Cup at Bedok.
With so much at stake hinging on the
game especially as they endure a terrible 2004 domestic season & their hope
of silverware, the pressure had been tremendous but O'Donell wants players to
ignore it.
Eagles coach Scott O'Donell insisted
all was calm in his camp they were able to cope with everything threw at them last week & have had a good
week training since coming back, so nothing to not fear.
Still the Aussie is certainly aware of
the danger posed by the Syrian opponents as Al Wahda
had the Eagles on the back foot throughout the game & if not for the
outstanding Shahril Jantan the scoreline
would have been different. Also the extra danger according to O'Donell is that
he would not pick out any individual who stand because they are dangerous as a
team being more physically stronger, faster & technically better as a very
good side.
But if there was the need for extra
incentives, a record pay-out of US$150,000 (S$250,000) is awaiting the winner
of the AFC Cup & even if the Eagles just reach the Final, they are
guaranteed US$150,000.
For that it will takes the Eagles to
keep a clean sheet in their AFC Cup semi-final second leg against
Not that O'Donell is taking anything
for granted as he feel anything can happen & with
the efforts put in by the players to reach this stage of the competition, they
are not going to be satisfied just to be in the semi-finals.
Echoing his coach's sentiments is
skipper Aleksandar Duric as
he said Geylang had not achieved anything yet for no
one remembers the semi-finalists of any tournament. Having come so far, Eagles want
to reach the final & this is definitely the biggest match for Geylang & personally, for him as well.
On the other side though they are
equally confident as Al Wahda club president &
team manager Safwan Nizaddin believes his side will be in the Final
Nizaddin said they played much better
than Geylang & could have scored 20 goals but
were too overconfident so missed many chances but there will be no repeat.
Nevertheless with Eagles at home,
Nizaddin know the second leg is evenly balanced with them technically better,
but Geylang more used to the conditions & the pitch.
Also his side wanted to make up to
their fans who were disappointed with the performance & result of the AFC
Cup match last week. The Damascus-based Al-Wahda are
Their star striker Nabil
Alshehmeh said they cannot let the fans down again.
Agreeing is their Serbian coach Nenad Stavric as he said he does
not even need to motivate as they are angry with the draw. They will have
something to prove against Geylang in addition to an
all-Syrian final.
The money for that is also not
terrible for Al Wahda have a US$5,000 (S$8,400)
carrot per player should they win the AFC Cup.