Tampines Rovers - SLNA: Continuing the happy days

Although they only finished 8th in V.League 2017, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team still had a quite successful season. Objectively speaking, with the team’s situation in the past year, it is completely normal for SLNA not to be in the top of V.League.

Due to limited funds, the Vinh team could only buy 2 foreign players (according to VPF regulations) and could not recruit any naturalized players – unlike most other teams. Not to mention, the pillars including Dinh Hoang, Tuan Tai, Manh Hung… were suffering from persistent injuries.

Besides, the championship at the 2017 National Cup is an achievement that surpassed the expectations of experts and fans of Nghe An. Not many people thought that SLNA had enough strength and courage to win the championship in the playground that is always considered a secondary arena of Vietnamese football.

SLNA won the 2017 National Cup after many years of consecutive defeats. Photo: Archive

Having to participate in a costly and time-consuming tournament like the AFC Cup is also a big obstacle for a poor team like SLNA. However, with the determination of the management, coaching staff and players to overcome difficulties, the nearly 6-year title thirst of the Nghe An team has been successfully resolved.

Joy after joy, when two young players Van Duc and Xuan Manh shined together in the U23 Vietnam team shirt at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship. The impressive performances of the duo Van Duc - Xuan Manh in China nearly a month ago were not only a source of pride, but also helped Nghe An fans feel more secure about SLNA's strength in this year's season, especially after Phi Son left Vinh Stadium to join Ho Chi Minh City Club.

The away match against Tampines Rovers is the first match of coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team in the 2018 season. A victory or at least a draw against the Singaporean team will be a springboard for SLNA to move towards the successes that await them.

SLNA players have arrived in Singapore to prepare for the match against Tampines Rovers. Photo courtesy

Sharing with the press, captain Nguyen Duc Thang affirmed: "Determining the goal of always playing for the flag, for the fans, the pride and honor of SLNA, the whole team will strive to play each match one by one so as not to tarnish the image of Vietnamese football."

According to experts, Tampines Rovers is not an overwhelming opponent for the Nghe An team. The core of Tampines Rovers are players who are on the other side of their careers (Daniel Bennet is 40 years old, Fahrudin is 36 years old, Amirul Adli is 32 years old...). In the past, SLNA had faced Tampines Rovers twice in the group stage of the 2012 AFC Cup (won 1, drew 1).

If they play to their full potential and with the current spirit, coach Nguyen Duc Thang and his team can leave Singapore with at least 1 point in hand. If they get a positive result against Tampines Rovers, SLNA will end the year of the Rooster successfully and start a new season full of hope. Joy will follow joy./.