News • February 26, 2017
Home Face Young Lions In Season Opener
Home United vs Garena Young Lions
(Monday, 27 February, 7.30pm, Bishan Stadium)
Written by: Phoon Jia Hui
Home United, who finished fourth last year, will entertain Garena Young Lions in their 2017 Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League season opener at the Bishan Stadium on Monday evening.
The Protectors will be looking to bounce back after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Yadanarbon FC in their AFC Cup Group H opener last Wednesday.
In his first full season in charge of Home, head coach Aidil Sharin has made a number of astute signings as he seeks to assemble a squad capable of challenging on all fronts.
The biggest name of all is goalkeeper Hassan Sunny who will ply his trade for the Bishan-based side after spending the past two years in Thailand with Army United.
In addition, they have captured Singapore internationals Izzdin Shafiq and Afiq Yunos while swooping for Adam Swandi and Christopher van Huizen, both of whom were on the Young Lionsâ rosters last season.
The six-time Singapore Cup winners have managed to retain the core of their team which includes 2016 S.League Young Player of the Year nominee Song Ui-young, defender Abdil Qaiyyim and marauding full-back Jumaâat Jantan.
In the attacking department, Stipe Plazibat has been brought in from rivals Hougang United to replace top-scorer Ken Ilso who has since left for Kedah FA.
On the other hand, Young Lions will be a fully Under-22 side this season as they gear up for Augustâs Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
As a result, seasoned campaigners like Khairul Amri, Firdaus Kasman and Fareez Farhan have left the club. Shahrin Saberin, formerly of Home, and Amirul Adli are therefore expected to step up and mentor the younger players in the squad.
Assistant to former Young Lions head coach Patrick Hesse last year, V. Selvaraj will be the man tasked to lead the developmental side in 2017.
It will be a baptism of fire for most of these players in the squad and Selvaraj hopes to see them learn from this experience.
âPlaying in a professional league, I want the boys to grow,â the former Warriors FC coach added. âThe average age of the squad is even younger this year after we released a few senior players like Khairul Amri, Firdaus Kasman and Christopher van Huizen, so they need to mature and make fewer mistakes on the pitch.â
Home United – WLWWL
22/02/17Â Â Â Yadanaborn FC 1-0 Home United (AFC Cup)
07/02/17Â Â Â Home United 3-0 Phnom Penh Crown FC (AFC Cup)
30/01/17Â Â Â Phnom Penh Crown FC 3-4 Home United (AFC Cup)
25/10/16Â Â Â Geylang International 4-1 Home United
20/10/16Â Â Â Home United 3-1 Albirex Niigata (S)
Garena Young Lions – LLLLL
15/10/16Â Â Â Garena Young Lions 1-3 Tampines Rovers
30/09/16Â Â Â Home United 5-2 Garena Young Lions
26/09/16Â Â Â Brunei DPMM 5-3 Garena Young Lions
23/09/16Â Â Â Garena Young Lions 0-2 Hougang United
26/08/16Â Â Â Warriors FC 5-2 Garena Young Lions
Head to Head (S.League)
30/09/16Â Â Â Home United 5-2 Garena Young Lions
11/06/16Â Â Â Garena Young Lions 2-2 Home United
17/03/16Â Â Â Home United 4-1 Garena Young Lions
15/11/15Â Â Â Home United 2-1 Garena Young Lions
27/08/15Â Â Â Garena Young Lions 0-2 Home United
Photo: Home United Football Club