Written By: Kenneth Ho

Warriors FC vs Hougang United

(Monday, 26 October, 7.30pm, Choa Chu Kang Stadium)

Warriors FC will have a new man at the helm when they take on Hougang United at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Monday evening.

This, after Alex Weaver and the club decided to part by mutual consent after the Warriors’ 2-1 defeat to Home United last week.

His replacement will be Karim Bencherifa, who last coached the now-defunct Woodlands Wellington in the S.League in 2006

While most coaches would like to have more time adapting to a new club, Bencherifa will not have such luxury as the Warriors’ title challenge are in tatters.

Currently, Warriors are 13 points behind league leaders Brunei DPMM, although they do have a game in hand.

With only four games remaining for DPMM, it will be unreasonable to expect the 47-year-old to be able to revive the club’s title hopes now, but Bencherifa will want to kick-start his career with the Warriors on a good note.

As for the Cheetahs, it has been five games since they tasted victory. However, their displays in those games have not been poor, and only lapses in concentration at the back have seen them dropping valuable points.

A win will also go a long way in ensuring Hougang do not finish in bottom place. At the moment, they are treading on thin ice, as only two points separate them from last-placed Geylang International.

Key Men To Watch

Warriors FC: Fazrul Nawaz

The Warriors are having a dismal season, but luckily for them Fazrul is not.

The striker continued his hot streak by finding the net in his last game, and he will be keen to keep it up.

Hougang United: Vuk Sotirovic

When one looks for inspiration within the Hougang setup, they need not look beyond captain Nurhilmi Jasni and Vuk Sotirovic.

Both players have been playing their hearts out for Hougang and have popped up with four goals each. Sotirovic in particular has shown his penchant for the spectacular and he may once again pop up with a stunning goal to secure the points for Hougang.

Warriors FC – DWDLL

21/10/15 Home United 2-1 Warriors FC (S.League)

16/10/15  Courts Young Lions 2-1 Warriors FC (S.League)

19/09/15  Harimau Muda 2-2 Warriors FC (S.League)

13/09/15  Warriors FC 4-2 Balestier Khalsa (S.League)

29/08/15  Warriors FC 1-1 Geylang International (S.League)

Hougang United – DLDLL

20/10/15   Hougang United 1-2 Brunei DPMM (S.League)

17/10/15   Tampines Rovers 1-0 Hougang United (S.League)

01/10/15   Hougang United 2-2 Courts Young Lions (S.League)

17/09/15   Hougang United 0-1 Home United (S.League)

28/08/15   Hougang United 1-1 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)

Head-to-Head (S.League)

04/08/15 Hougang United 4-1 Warriors FC

09/04/15 Warriors FC 1-0 Hougang United

08/06/14 Hougang United 3-2 Warriors FC

20/03/14 Warriors FC 2-0 Hougang United

25/09/13 Warriors FC 1-1 Hougang United