Players up for the fight: Aide

The under-23 team will take on Japanese fourth-division team Azul-Claro Numazu today as part of their preparations for the coming SEA Games. Photo: FAS

S’pore under-23 coach happy with squad’s attitude in Japan, but says tougher days lie ahead

By Noah Tan(Today)

SINGAPORE — They may not be regarded as favourites for the prestigious men’s football gold medal at next month’s SEA Games, but Singapore national under-23 coach Aide Iskandar believes his squad have the stomach for a fight.

The provisional 25-man squad will face Japanese fourth division club Azul-Claro Numazu today in a friendly today in Gotemba, Shizuoka where they are on a week-long training tour of Japan.


Despite criticism that the players lacked sufficient hunger to want to end Singapore’s long-overdue wait for its maiden SEA Games football gold medal, Aide said he was pleased with the commitment shown by the players so far in Japan.

“I can see the boys are very motivated for our first game in Japan. They are eager to show me what they have got today and everybody is really looking forward to the game,” said the 39-year-old former Singapore national captain.

At stake for the players is a place in Singapore’s SEA Games squad, with the provisional squad set to be trimmed down to the final 20 after they return on May 17.

Azul-Claro Numazu, on paper at least, are not expected to provide too difficult a test for Singapore’s SEA Games squad.

The team, who play their home matches at the 10,000-seater Shizuoka Ashitaka Athletic Stadium, are currently sixth in Japan’s 16-team Fourth Division with 20 points, seven behind leaders Sony Sendai. However, they lost their last two league games against Osaka (0-2) and Honda (0-5).

With Singapore set to play another friendly on Saturday against Shizuoka Sangyo University, Aide has outlined his intention to increase the intensity of the training sessions over the remainder of their training camp.

“I’m happy with the progress so far, but there’s still a lot of work and fine-tuning to be done with this team. Thankfully, the spirit and morale among the players are high,” he said. “This fulfils one of the objectives of this trip, which is to help the players bond.”

Singapore have never won the SEA Games gold medal in football, and the last time they reached the final was at the 1989 Games in Kuala Lumpur, where they lost 3-1 to Malaysia.

The target this time is to at least reach the final at the National Stadium on June 15. Singapore have been drawn in Group A, where they kick off their campaign against the Philippines on June 1, before facing Myanmar (June 4), Cambodia (June 8) and Indonesia (June 11).

Favourites Thailand, who have won the SEA Games title 14 times, are in Group B with Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Timor Leste and Laos, and are expected to reach the final again.

In a sign of their strength, Thailand’s national under-23 side — their SEA Games squad — only lost 4-3 to the senior Thai national side in a friendly at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium last night. The match was held in tribute of former Thai midfield star Attaphol Buspakom, who died last month, with proceeds from the match going to his family.

Among those expected to feature prominently in Aide’s plans during the SEA Games is attacking midfielder Irfan Fandi, who scored both goals in a 2-2 draw against Mongolia in a 2016 AFC under-23 Championship qualifier in March.

But the 17-year-old, who is the eldest son of Singapore football icon Fandi Ahmad, said: “As one of the younger players in the team, I’ll be working extra hard to prove myself to the coach and give my all to earn my place in the SEA Games squad.”

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/sports/players-fight-aide

Aide's 5 musketeers

By Sazali Abdul Aziz(TNP)


Under-23 team head coach Aide Iskandar.

The challenge for them at the 28th South-east Asia (SEA) Games is demanding, to say the least: Try to win a first football gold for Singapore.

After a string of disappointments in recent months, most in this football-mad nation don't believe the Singapore team can pull it off.

But national Under-23 team head coach Aide Iskandar believes in his boys, and before the squad left for Japan yesterday for a week-long training camp, the former national skipper told The New Paper he has appointed five leaders to make sure squad morale remains high as they attempt to make history.

The five are goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari, defenders Al-Qaasimy Rahman and Shakir Hamzah, midfielder Safirul Sulaiman and striker Shahfiq Ghani.

Speaking on the sidelines of a special send-off for the team at Changi Airport's Terminal 2, Aide said: "They are the senior players in the team, and have the most experience. They've played for the Young Lions and LionsXII, and I know they can be leaders.

"During my time as a young player, Kadir (Yahaya), Fandi (Ahmad), David (Lee) and Malek (Awab) were the four main leaders of the team.

"They ensured the dressing room was happy, and that's what I want my five captains to do.

"Of course, in the course of preparing for a tournament like the SEA Games there will be a few unhappy moments, but the key is getting through those times together and emerging stronger as a unit."

Honoured by the additional role he has to play, Syazwan said: "It feels good to be among those coach Aide has given the responsibility and it shows he has a lot of trust in us."

The 22-year-old shot-stopper is said to be the most straight-laced player in the team.

"I'm the one who likes to keep things running," he said."Shakir and I are quite firm, and we will chide someone if he's not doing something right.

"Yeah, you could say I'm the most serious. But the only reason for that is I badly want us to do well."

Right back Al-Qaasimy, 23, is a leading contender for the skipper's armband.

"I'm not much of a guy who dictates as captain," he said. "I'm very easy-going, open, and maybe even soft-spoken. I listen to my teammates' views."

Safirul, meanwhile, appears to be the mediator.

"I always try to be the one who makes things calm," he said. "If there's a disagreement, I look at the positives and cool everyone down. That's in my character."

The 22-year-old scored a memorable goal against Thailand in the 2011 SEA Games but missed out on the 2013 tournament because of National Service, and is eager to make up for lost time.

"I just want to play the best I can because I missed a lot of football in 2013 and 2014," said Safirul. "To be able to try and do that, and also help lead this team, is a big honour for me."

Singapore have been drawn in Group A and will open their SEA Games campaign against the Philippines on June 1 at the Jalan Besar Stadium. They will also face Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia and the top two move into the semi-finals.

Much will depend on whether forward Shahfiq, 23, can deliver. His teammates rate him highly, and believe he is a leader.

"Shahfiq's a quiet guy and he leads by what he does on the pitch," said Syazwan.

Al-Qaasimy says Aide's choice of five leaders is a good one.

"I think the five of us make a good (leadership) team. In a way, Syazwan and Shakir are the bad cops, I'm the good cop.

"They make sure no one steps out of line, and I'm the one who will listen if the boys have issues, problems or want to give feedback."

Source: http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/aides-5-musketeers?page=0%2C1#sthash.PoV4NrSp.dpuf

2015 S-League Standings

Updated as of 9th May 2015

Coach Aide retains belief at Courts Young Lions despite lack of S.League win

Photo: Straits Times

Aide Iskandar is convinced that his Courts Young Lions side are getting better even though they are still looking for their first win in the 2015 Great Eastern Yeo's S.League season.

Having picked up just one point from their opening three games, the Young Lions had an excellent chance to get kick-start their campaign at the Jalan Besar Stadium last Friday -- only to fall to a 1-0 defeat against Harimau Muda.

It does not get any easier with a tough run of fixtures awaiting them over the next fortnight, starting with Wednesday's trip to the Jurong East Stadium to take on the in-form Albirex Niigata (S).

But Aide believes his young charges are slowly but surely finding their feet as they build towards the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in June.

"I think our performance against Harimau Muda was much better than in the previous game when we were beaten 5-1 by Balestier," he said.

"One of our main focuses was to make things tight at the back and, for the most part of last Friday's game, I felt everything went according to plan.

"The discipline is a lot better, punctuality has improved and you can see the players are now more serious and focused.

"We must respect the opinions and comments coming from the fans because it is fair for them to be demanding results, but I just hope they can be patient with us.

"We are definitely working very hard and I believe this team has the potential do well at the SEA Games."

Aide does have a couple of new injury worries after captain Al-Qaasimy Rahman and Irfan Fandi -- who was deployed in the heart of defence -- both limped off against Harimau Muda last Friday.

Should they both be forced out of Wednesday's game, it would make things even more difficult for the Young Lions coming up against an Albirex side who have looked potent in attack this season.

The White Swans' triumph over Geylang International last Wednesday was their third 1-0 win in succession, but the scoreline failed to reflect how dominant they were throughout the 90 minutes.

In Atsushi Kawata, Rion Taki and Shotaro Ihata, they have a trio capable of winning a game with a moment of magic. And they are not short of supply with Fumiya Kogure and Hikaru Mizuno pulling the strings behind them.

But although Albirex boss Tatsuyuki Okuyama is pleased with his team's recent run of form, he insists they cannot afford any complacency.

"It's good for us to keep on winning but we also want to get better at the same time," he said.

"There is still plenty of room for us to improve.

"One real positive is how well our defence has been doing in the past few games. Now, we also want to get better in attack and put away the chances we create."

Albirex Niigata (S) Probable Lineup: Yosuke Nozawa, Mikiya Yamada, Takahiro Saito, Kento Fujihara, Itsuki Yamada, Hikaru Mizuno, Shun Inaba, Fumiya Kogure, Atsushi Kawata, Rion Taki, Shotaro Ihata. Courts

Young Lions Probable Lineup: Syazwan Buhari, Al-Qaasimy Rahman, Sheikh Abdul Hadi, Amirul Adli, Shakir Hamzah, Shamil Sharif, Safirul Sulaiman, Shameer Aziq, Shahfiq Ghani, Amy Recha, Iqbal Hussain.

Source: http://www.espnfc.com.ng/singapore-s-league/story/2397077/coach-aide-retains-belief-at-courts-young-lions-despite-lack-of-sleague-win