Noh Alam Shah sets semi-final target for Tanjong Pagar United in Singapore Cup
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Coach Noh Alam Shah knows what must be done to overcome Hougang in the Cup, and will be looking to his players to execute his gameplan.
PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN FILE
Follow topic:
- Tanjong Pagar and Hougang United seek their first points in the Singapore Cup when they meet on Nov 7.
- The new competition format gives the top two league teams from last season a bye to the semi-finals. For the remaining two spots, five other teams compete in a round-robin stage, where it is anyone's game.
- Tanjong Pagar coach Nor Alam Shah aims for a win against Hougang, focusing on containing key players and improving their team's goal-scoring performance.
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SINGAPORE – It has been 12 years since Tanjong Pagar United last reached the Singapore Cup semi-finals.
Although the current side are lying seventh in the eight-team Singapore Premier League (SPL), coach Noh Alam Shah believes his Jaguars have what it takes to clinch a last-four spot in the knockout competition.
The last time the Jaguars came this far in 2013, a side spearheaded by Moroccan striker Monsef Zerka advanced to the final and finished runners-up behind Home United, the predecessor of the privatised Lion City Sailors.
Alam Shah said: “With the new format, I think the five teams that play (in the round-robin stage) are capable of beating one another, so realistically, the target should be for us to enter the semi-finals.”
The quintet are Geylang International, Balestier Khalsa, Albirex Niigata, Hougang United and Tanjong Pagar, with the Young Lions omitted due to their local players’ involvement in the Dec 3-18 SEA Games football tournament.
A string of positive results could see any of the five teams clinch a semi-final spot, against either the Sailors or BG Tampines Rovers, last season’s champions and runners-up respectively in both the league and cup, who received a bye into the last four.
Tanjong Pagar, who host Hougang in their next Singapore Cup game at the Jurong East Stadium on Nov 7, will be looking to bounce back from their 3-0 loss to Balestier on Nov 2, when they looked shaky in front of goal and struggled defensively.
“After the last match’s result, we definitely have to go into the next one with the thought of winning it, nothing less,” Alam Shah added. “I think the boys have prepared well, they’re looking sharp and they understand why we lost in the last match.”
Tanjong Pagar United coach Noh Alam Shah is optimistic about his team’s performances, and he will be hoping to get a positive result when they face Hougang United on Nov 7 at Jurong East Stadium.
PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN FILE
The Jaguars will be seeking to get past a Hougang side in transition, with Thai Pannarai Pansiri taking the reins as interim coach.
Alam Shah believes they need to keep a close eye on three players, adding: “I see them as a team relying a lot on Yotsakorn Burapha, along with Farhan Zulkifli and Victor Blasco.
“These are the threats that we want to take note of. I hope to lock down those three players and then, of course, improve on the goal scoring on our side.
“I think the game will be played at a good tempo and focused more on the attacking side, rather than the defending side for both teams.”
Tanjong Pagar have not had the best start to the SPL season, with their only win in five games coming in a 5-1 thumping of the Young Lions on Sept 25.
Despite this, Alam Shah remains optimistic. He said: “In terms of the performance, it’s progressing well, actually. Eventually, I believe that the stats will show it, sooner rather than later. Hopefully, it will come soon, perhaps just in time for the match (against Hougang).
“Scoring in the final third is something that we have to take note of. It’s a collective effort from there. We are unlike other teams who rely on individualism. I like to stress that the team’s performance – the togetherness – is much more important. Hopefully, we can get our act together.”
Hougang, who are sixth in the SPL with a similar one win in five games, will be eyeing a good start in the Cup, with Pannarai’s first game in charge after replacing Robert Eziakor ending in a narrow 2-1 SPL defeat by Tampines on Oct 27. The club have declined comment for this match.
In another Cup match at the Jurong East Stadium on Nov 6, two stoppage-time goals helped Albirex pull off a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Balestier to stay top of the group on six points after two games.
The hosts took the lead through Takumi Yokohata in the 22nd minute, but Balestier fought back via a penalty by Tin Matic (59th) and a goal by Jakov Katusa (74th).
Albirex then claimed the win through a Kim Tae-uk strike and a Nicky Melvin Singh header in the third and eighth minutes of stoppage time respectively.
Both Hougang and Tanjong Pagar can go level with Balestier, who are second with three points, should either side win on Nov 7.
