Skip to main content
Home The New Paper
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team

Popular

  • COURT & CRIME
  • Food & Drink
Football

Stags coach Raab not afraid of the axe

Jonathan Lee
Aug 17, 2017 06:00 am
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements
ALBIREX NIIGATA TAMPINES ROVERS

It hasn't been a great season for Tampines Rovers.

They had crashed out of the RHB Singapore Cup, after losing 7-1 on aggregate to league leaders Albirex Niigata.

The Stags had also failed to make an impact in The New Paper League Cup, which was won by Albirex.

One might think that Tampines coach Juergen Raab is feeling the heat.

However, the 58-year-old German says otherwise.

When asked if he was afraid of being sacked, Raab replied: "No.

Why Albirex are aces
Singapore Football

Players' extra training among reasons for Albirex dominance

Nov 17, 2017

Related Stories

Gombak, Tanjong Pagar apply to rejoin S.League in 2019

DPMM release Kean and imports

Albirex hungry for more after defending S.League title

"Everyone knows that I have taken on a difficult job. We are second on the table above Home United, despite losing key players at the start of the season."

"We lost very important players last season, and you would know these players," he added, referring to former Arsenal and Liverpool man Jermaine Pennant, striker Billy Mehmet and Warriors FC forward Jordan Webb. "I was tasked to take over and do my best for this season and develop an attractive style of play for Tampines.

"(Khairul) Amri, Fazrul (Nawaz) and Izwan (Mahbud) were out because of injury, and we had to make many shifts in our squad to compete this year."

NINE POINTS BEHIND

Tampines are nine points behind leaders Albirex, albeit with two games in hand.

On Saturday, they face the White Swans for the third time in 10 days, in a game that they must win to keep pace with the leaders.

Raab said: "It is a little bit strange, and it is not the best solution to play them three times in 10 days.

"It is difficult to play them in the S.League right now.

"But the league is all open, and we have to learn from the past two matches.

"Albirex have played 90 per cent of their fixtures with the same team. That is what you need as a coach. They are organised and well-prepared. They are a consistent team.

"We were too weak in defence, that is not a question. We gave them too much space. We improved against Albirex in the last match, and we showed a good performance, but we made two errors that cost us the game.

"We cannot give them space, and we need to prevent ourselves from making mistakes.

"We are a team that can play on their level and I hope to show our quality against Albirex to stay in the competition."

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now

s.leaguetampines roversalbirex niigata

Jonathan Lee

Read articles by Jonathan Lee
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

Makansutra: Mad for this moist millennial char kway teow
Makan

Mad for this moist and marvellous char kway teow

Feb 25, 2021
MasterChef Singapore 2 finalists spill the beans
TV

MasterChef hopefuls spill the beans

Feb 25, 2021
Jaime Teo to be sentenced in March over Twelve Cupcakes wages
Singapore

Jaime Teo to be sentenced next month in Twelve Cupcakes case

Feb 26, 2021
Home
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contact TNP
  • About SPH
  • Privacy Statement
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Member Terms & Conditions
  • Website Terms & Conditions
SPH Digital News Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E