Written by: Muhammad Yazid

Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League champions Warriors FC players are raring to go after making their return to the AFC Champions League for the first time in five years.

Among them was new signing Fazli Jaffar from Hougang United, who Warriors coach Alex Weaver has enhanced his squad with in preparation for the 2015 season.

The winger has no experience in any regional tournament, and he hopes to be able to make his debut in the AFC Champions League and help the Warriors make the group stages of the tournament.

“To get to play in Selangor for the Sultan Of Selangor Cup itself was a good experience, and I cannot imagine how the Asian Champions League is going to be,” Fazli expressed.

“The atmosphere will be similarly intimidating. It is a different level of football but if the whole team works hard, everyone will stand a chance to shine.

“For now everything is being properly prepared. We have a detailed training plan scheduled for us by the coaching team, and we are also working hard with the sports trainer.

“Hopefully it turns out well as we lead up to the qualifiers in February. It is always a dream to enter the group stage, but of course we will take one game at a time.”

The 31-year-old is already feeling the pressure of playing for a championship winning team, but he referred to it as a ‘good problem’.

“Nobody likes to be on the bench and everyone wants playing time, but if I get the chance to be even in the squad, I will make full use of it,” the winger commented.

“It is good problem for me. I want to relive this challenge and get out of the comfort zone. This is the time for me to step up.”

Another new addition to the squad would be Syaqir Sulaiman, also from Hougang.

“Champions League is a big competition, definitely bigger than the S.League,” Syaqir said.

“We will be playing top-class teams from Asia and I believe we can slowly match them with the quality we have.”

One player who would be looked up to would be Hafiz Rahim. The nippy forward was a key player in the Warriors’ outfit last season, and he hopes to continue his trade upfront.

“I want to contribute success for the club in this regional tournament,” Hafiz shared.

“We are starting where we stopped last year. People were writing us off but we managed to win the league and I think this team is good enough to compete in the Champions League.

“It is like an international game and it is very competitive as the best clubs in the region take on each other.”

Warriors’ first test will be against Myanmar’s Yadanarbon on 14 February 2015.