The New Paper League Cup 2017 (Group B)

Tampines Rovers vs Brunei DPMM

(8 July, Saturday, 7.30pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

Written by: Shawn Lim

A youthful-looking Tampines Rovers will take on Brunei DPMM in their The New Paper League Cup 2017 Group B match at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday night.

The Stags have given a majority of their first-team players a break for the entire duration of the League Cup and will call on the likes of Prime League players like Ehvin Sasidharan to prove their worth.

Ehvin, a right midfielder who is also adept at right-back or centre-back, is excited at the prospect of playing at a higher level and is hopeful that the experience will benefit him and his teammates.

“I speak for the rest of my Prime League teammates when I say we hope to perform to the best as an individual and also as a team,” said the 21-year-old.

“The goal will be to be champions, but more importantly, through playing in this League Cup against opponents of a higher level, I can continue growing and learn new things.

“Ultimately, I hope that the experience will make me a better player so as to contribute even more to the first-team and Prime League.”

The National Football Academy graduate also explained that the the team have prepared well and is confident of getting the results.

“We are currently working hard in trainings. We know what are goals are and also where we need to improve,” Ehvin said.

“I would say we are focused and we hope to get the results we want as long as we follow coach (Jurgen) Raab’s instructions.”

Apart from DPMM, the Stags are also in the same group as Balestier Khalsa and Geylang International. When asked who he sees as the Stags’ toughest opponent, Ehvin was keen to stress that every team is dangerous.

“All the other three teams have quality and experience, but I think we are ready as we have been training hard with quality coaches and staff,” said Ehvin, a graduate of Saint Andrew’s Junior College.

“DPMM are the former (Great Eastern-Hyundai) S.League champions, while Balestier are also a tough team. Geylang have really quality players, so we have to be at our best against them.”

DPMM are currently on a back of a three-game losing streak and are languishing in eighth-place in the S.League, but Ehvin has warned that the Wasps cannot be taken lightly.

“It’s very hard to say if we can easily beat them because the ball is round and anything can happen in football,” explained the former Garena Young Lions player.

“They might not be at their best at the moment, but we cannot be complacent and all we can do now is just to focus on ourselves rather than our opponents.”

The Stags will miss Irwan Shah through suspension while the Wasps have no suspended players. However, head coach Steve Kean will miss key forward Rafael Ramazotti through injury.

Suspension: Irwan Shah (Tampines Rovers)

Tampines Rovers – LWWWD

29/06/17  Tampines Rovers 1-1 Geylang International

22/06/17  Warriors FC 0-1 Tampines Rovers

17/06/17  Tampines Rovers 3-1 Balestier Khalsa

25/05/17  Hougang United 0-3 Tampines Rovers

21/05/17  Tampines Rovers 1-4 Albirex Niigata (S)

Brunei DPMM – LDLLL

02/07/17  Warriors FC 1-0 Brunei DPMM

16/06/17  Albirex Niigata (S) 4-0 Brunei DPMM

25/05/17  Home United 9-3 Brunei DPMM

13/05/17  Garena Young Lions 0-0 Brunei DPMM

28/04/17  Brunei DPMM 0-1 Tampines Rovers