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
Singapore Football

Hougang United look for season-end flourish

Cheetahs seek to finish with a flourish
Hougang coach Philippe Aw is hoping his side can repeat their upset win over Albirex Niigata in July. TNP PHOTO: SALWA NADHIRAH

Struggling Hougang hope to improve after poor run in S.League and cup exit

Sazali Abdul Aziz
Sports Correspondent
Oct 19, 2017 06:00 am
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements
s.league
ALBIREX NIIGATA HOUGANG UNITED

They turned heads in pre-season, when they held their season launch at the rooftop bar of the Fullerton Bay Hotel, with their players decked out in spiffy tailored suits.

But Hougang United's results in this Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League season have been far less attractive.

As the Cheetahs prepare to visit league leaders Albirex Niigata at the Jurong East Stadium tonight, they find themselves in sixth place in the nine-team league, with four games left.

Hougang have lost five of their last eight S.League matches - beating only Garena Young Lions and Brunei DPMM during the spell, the two sides that prop up the table.

Hougang coach Philippe Aw admits the season has not been easy.

"We could do better in terms of results," said the 40-year-old.

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

"There have been times this season where we simply just gave the game away.

"In many games, we had good chances to score, didn't put it away, then allowed the opponent to go up the other end and score.

"So many people have told me, 'Your team play good football, but never score'. That has been the story of our season."

In 20 games this season, Hougang have scored just 22 goals.

They did not manage to adequately replace 15-goal Stipe Plazibat, their top scorer last season who moved to Home United.

The Croat has been on fire this term for the Protectors, and leads the S.League scoring chart with 21 goals.

His successor at Hougang, Spaniard Pablo Rodriguez, has struggled to cement a starting berth, featuring in only 12 games and scoring just twice.

He is one of six Cheetahs players who have scored two goals this season. Only winger Fareez Farhan (four) and playmaker Fumiya Kogure (seven) have scored more.

Besides a profligate attack, Aw also pointed to the fixture scheduling as a reason his side struggled for consistency.

He said: "What we have done a lot this year is utilise every player in the squad, sometimes to good effect, sometimes not so much.

"Of course, as a coach, I want consistency in the team and to have the same 11 playing together as much as possible.

"But in our local competitions, it's very difficult, because of the way the fixtures are done.

"You'll have five games in 15 days, then no games for three weeks, then three matches in one week."

Aw had announced in pre-season that he was hoping to win the club's first piece of silverware by lifting either The New Paper League Cup or RHB Singapore Cup.

But they were eliminated from the TNP League Cup at the group stage after drawing all three games and were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Philippine side Global FC in the Singapore Cup semi-finals two weeks ago.

Hougang could yet climb up to fourth by the time the season ends on Nov 18.

That would better their best showing of sixth, which they achieved last season under K Balagumaran.

Aw, however, acknowledges his side will have their work cut out in tonight's clash with Albirex, who are eyeing a 27th straight victory on their home ground's artificial turf.

But Hougang have pulled off an upset over Albirex before, when they won 2-1 in an S.League meeting at the Hougang Stadium in July, and Aw is not ruling out the chance of a repeat.

"If you talk about motivation and focus, the Japanese boys have something really big to aim for, since they are going for the title," said the coach.

"It's going to be tough for us at Jurong East especially and, without a doubt, we head into the game as big underdogs.

"But football is a funny game, and nobody expected us to beat them here (in July), when we sent out our reserve side. So let's see."

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

s.leagueHOUGANG UNITEDalbirex niigata

Sazali Abdul Aziz

Sports Correspondent
msazali@sph.com.sg
@SazaliAbdulAziz
Read articles by Sazali Abdul Aziz
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

Family of girl raped, killed in 1995 appeal for help with case
Singapore

Family of girl raped, killed in 1995 appeal for help with case

Jan 11, 2021
Covid-19 vaccination centres to be opened soon
Singapore

Singapore set to open Covid-19 vaccination centres

Jan 12, 2021
Fear and frustration for maids, employers amid the pandemic
Singapore

Fear and frustration for maids, employers amid the pandemic

Jan 11, 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