Tampines Rovers unfazed by underdog tag in ACL 2 test against mighty Pohang Steelers
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BG Tampines Rovers winger Glenn Kweh (far right) is relishing the chance to go up against K-League 1 side Pohang Steelers in the Asian Champions League.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Follow topic:
- BG Tampines Rovers lead their Asian Champions League Two group with two wins, facing Pohang Steelers, who trail on goal difference.
- Tampines coach Noh Rahman believes his team can challenge against Asia's best and is focused on exceeding last season's performance.
- Pohang's coach Park Tae-ha acknowledges Tampines' strengths, particularly their Japanese players, while aiming to secure three points.
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SINGAPORE – After a promising start to their AFC Champions League Two (ACL 2) campaign, Group H leaders BG Tampines Rovers will be banking on their self-belief as they face their toughest challenge yet.
Mighty K-League 1 side Pohang Steelers, who also have six points but trail on goal difference, stand in the way as the Singapore Premier League (SPL) side hope to continue their perfect run after two games.
Both teams have notched wins over Thai powerhouses BG Pathum United and the Philippines’ Kaya FC-Iloilo, but the Stags’ +4 goal difference puts them ahead of Pohang’s +3.
While three-time Asian club champions Pohang are favourites on paper, Tampines are unfazed by the underdog tag ahead of the Bishan Stadium meeting on Oct 23.
In a pre-match press conference on Oct 22, Tampines coach Noh Rahman said: “After the BG (Pathum) game, I asked the team, ‘Are we satisfied with six points?’. Then the challenge for us is to do better than we did last season – we just missed out on (making it out of) the group stage, but we had a decent chance.
“So this year, coming into this competition, everyone needs to realise that we are playing against some of Asia’s best teams. That’s undeniable but we also need to think that we are one of the big teams out here and walk into the game, believe in our football, believe in our abilities, and playing at home, we stand a good chance against any team.”
In their 2024-25 ACL 2 campaign, Tampines did not progress out of the knockout round, finishing third in their group with eight points from six matches. Thailand’s Bangkok United and Vietnam’s Nam Dinh FC advanced instead, with 13 and 11 points respectively.
Only the top two in the group will advance after the double round-robin group stage.
Tampines winger Glenn Kweh is relishing the test against Pohang, who featured in the Asia’s top-tier ACL Elite last season.
The five-time K-League 1 champions, who are fourth in the standings this season, boast the likes of defensive midfielder Ki Sung-yueng, who has had spells at Swansea City, Celtic and Newcastle United.
“Obviously Pohang are a top side, they play in the K-League and you don’t always get to play against a quality team like that,” said Kweh, who has already gotten three goals in the SPL this season.
“I’m definitely excited and hopefully we will be able to show the way we play tomorrow and get the three points.”
While the Stags have got off to an encouraging start, they have had to manage a packed schedule of ACL 2, SPL and Asean Club Championship games.
Adding to the challenge are new rules in the SPL that have raised the on-field foreign player quota from six to seven for the 2025-26 season.
Noh said: “If you compare this year’s squad, we definitely have a little bit more depth in the squad and with the inclusion of seven (foreign) players in the team, competition for places in the team is quite intense.
“It is something I have to manage, but at the same time, there are plenty of games on top of the Champions League games – there’s the Shopee Cup games, the league itself, so opportunities for players to play a role are definitely there, but it’s a question of keeping everyone fresh, fit and in the right mindset.
“The bigger intention for the team is that we’re working towards the same objective to try and bring the club forward.”
Pohang coach Park Tae-ha, meanwhile, admitted to not knowing much about Tampines, but is wary of the team’s Japanese players as they look to maintain their perfect record.
He said: “They’re very good with short passes between their players, and we have to be careful of their Japanese players who have speed...
“This match is very important because Tampines is higher than us – that’s why we have to prepare well. Our purpose of coming here is to get the three points.”
Fellow SPL side Lion City Sailors will also be in action in the ACL 2 competition as they take on Bangkok United at BG Stadium on Oct 23.
The Sailors, who reached the final last season, are currently top of Group G with four points after two games, level with Indonesian Liga 1 team Persib Bandung.
