December 29, 2004

Just a little more than month after their last international meeting, Myanmar & Singapore are set to clash once again in Kuala Lumpur in the first leg of the Tiger Cup semi-finals.

Few observers at the time of the Tiger International Festival would have considered that the international friendly at the Jalan Besar Stadium on November 27 a preview of a Tiger Cup 2004 last four match, but with the demise of group stage hosts Vietnam & defending champions Thailand, the two combatants now find themselves within touching distance of an unlikely spot in the Tiger Cup final.

A late goal by substitute Noh Alam Shah helped Singapore to scrape a narrow 1-0 win on home soil in that first encounter against a Myanmar side playing under Ivan Kolev for the first time.

It remains their only defeat thus far under the Bulgarian coach as they went on to hold Hong Kong to a 2-2 draw in a friendly before defeating Philippines (1-0), Malaysia (1-0) and Timor Leste (3-1), & drawing 1-1 with Thailand to top their Tiger Cup group.

Despite their improvement, Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic is confident that his side will be able to prevail once again in Myanmar’s “home” match at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras, Malaysia.

The Serbo-Montenegrin said he is angered many people are saying that Myanmar have done well because they beat Malaysia &drew with Thailand but Singapore beat them (Myanmar), so how can one say we are also not doing well?

Also he is confident we can do it again as the players are ready for the game & are hungry for success.

He added we have good team spirit right now & the players will go out to play & win the game. We definitely don't fear Myanmar.

Equally confident is Myanmar coach Kolev as he does not want to read too much into the earlier result though, which came just a month after he took charge of the squad & was his first real opportunity to see the team in action in an international fixture.

With a fully-fit squad of 22 to pick from following the recovery of striker Yan Paing from a blow to the face during the group stage match against Thailand, the Bulgarian said all of the players are in good health & they have no problems. They will definitely be going for the win.

Asked if they were missing on home advantage as they are  playing in KL due to Organisational problems that prevented Myanmar from staging the semi-final match on home soil in Yangon, the Bulgarian replied the team do not mind returning to play their designated home games in Kuala Lumpur, which proved a happy hunting ground during the group stage & they were quite prepared to play in KL because it was a condition that the Myanmar Football Federation president had agreed to before the tournament.

Also they know they have many supporters in Malaysia &it felt like they were playing at home.