An Unfortunate Stalemate on Our #HOMECOMING Day

The stage was set. BG Tampines Rovers were back home.

Our Tampines Hub was set to host the season’s first Eastern Derby against our old rivals Geylang International.

And we couldn’t have asked for a better #HOMECOMING, with this historic derby remaining as arguably the sole ‘geographic rivalry’ left in the Singapore Premier League.

The renewed sense of hope and optimism that usually accompanies the start of a new campaign was palpable amongst both sets of supporters just before kickoff as they made their way through the gates and to their seats, with the home fans arriving early and creating a familiar atmosphere.

And we had every reason to be in high spirits, after witnessing our boys overcome title favourites Lion City Sailors in the Community Shield last week, which was followed by our Shopee Cup opening 3-1 win in Manila against fellow group hopefuls Dynamic Herb Cebu.

The Stand was in good voice from the first whistle bellowing out various fan favourites and willing the team on. A Digital Matchday Programme was a new touch, which included a QR code of various chants to get the rest of the home crowd involved. With that, we kicked off following the referee’s whistle. 

The opening 15 minutes was a cagey affair which you might expect in a local derby. On the tactical front, Coach Akbar made two changes to the team that won the Community Shield. Taufik and Nalawich were replaced for the match with our Japanese sharpshooter Hide - who had scored twice in his last two appearances - and Syazwan who continued in goal after his start on Wednesday. 

Around the midway point of the half, Seiga found himself with plenty of space in the middle and unleashed a shot that brought a good save from Geylang’s custodian in goal. The Stags subsequently started to show more vigour in attack which resulted in another good opportunity. Trent, with 3 goals already to his name, saw his first time effort strike the outside of the post after being found on the left by Hide, who did well to pick him out after being freed on the right. 

However, Geylang’s defensive resolve saw the away side slowly grow in stature. They started to create a few chances of their own, most notably a lobbed attempt from near the halfway line which almost caught out Syazwan, followed by a point blank shot that was blocked by Dylan in the six yard box. The home crowd was left feeling nervous from that block as VAR got involved soon after. There were claims the Australian defender might have utilised his hands but alas, it was nothing to be alarmed about as he was rightly deemed to have used his torso instead.

With that, the half-time break was a welcome relief as it allowed us to regroup and gather our thoughts.

It seemed to work as we started the second half with purpose and looked to be on the front foot. Gaps started to appear in the Eagles’ defence as we pressed with intensity and moved the ball quicker across the lines. The attacking trio of Trent, Hide and Glenn was proving to be a constant threat, with the former once again being denied by the post.

Half chances came and went during a good spell, but fatigue eventually crept up on the players which allowed Geylang to eventually see out the game. Speaking on this point, Head Coach Akbar Nawas concurred, saying “Yes, it is natural that such a schedule takes a toll on the players - but I must also give credit to the boys. Despite the fatigue, they pushed until the end and showed great fighting spirit. It’s a sign of their mentality.”

Summing up the performance, he mentioned, “It was a very intense game, and while I felt we were solid in our defensive organisation and that we created enough clear chances, we were not quite clinical enough and the ‘final pass’ was a little lacking in the final third. That’s an area we will keep working on.”

It wasn’t quite the Homecoming we hoped for, but it was still a very good point gained against a team with title aspirations. An unbeaten run, including a trophy, represents quite a start to the season, and drawing similar positives from the performance, Coach Akbar added, “The players showed discipline and commitment, and that’s a good foundation to build on.”

He also took some time after the game to acknowledge the support the team had received and the importance of The Stand. “The support tonight was fantastic. Our fans created a strong atmosphere that pushed the team on. We want to repay that by giving them performances with more attacking creativity and goals. This energy is something we carry with us into every training and every match.”

When asked if he had any further words for the droves of fans who flocked the stadium on our return home to Our Tampines Hub, he shared, “I want to sincerely thank them. Football is nothing without supporters, and tonight they showed their passion for the club. To see the number of fans gives us extra motivation. My message to them is - keep believing, because this team is growing and will get stronger with your support.”

The gaffer has spoken. Let’s be patient, and continue to support the team and watch them grow!

With the international break looming around the corner, the squad will now have a chance to take a breather after an arduous opening week. An exciting September awaits us - as we open our AFC Champions League Two campaign at Kaya FC-Iloilo, along with more matches to play in the SPL and Shopee Cup.