Singapore: Warriors' Chief Hails Third Straight Title

The Warriors, who had already won the championship in 2006 and 2007 in addition to four previous successes, completed the ‘three-peat’ on Friday evening with a 1-0 victory over archrivals Home United.

That result put them seven points ahead of Home with one game to spare, while the much-transformed Super Reds, bottom of the league last season, stand four points adrift in second place.

And having seen his team heavily stretched by possibly the toughest field of teams this season, Bok was under no illusions over the difficulty of the challenge his team had just successfully negotiated as he celebrated their victory.

“It’s a fantastic achievement from the team, and there’s no doubt they deserve it,” said the two-time MIKASA Coach of the Year, who is up for a three-in-a-row himself at the upcoming NTUC Income-YEO’s S.League Awards Night.

“When we first won the title in 2006, we knew 2007 would be tough, and when we won it again, we knew this year is going to be tough again. Once the Super Reds came in this year and we had a friendly with them, we knew they would be nothing like last year.

“Together with Home United, and not forgetting Tampines Rovers, they pushed us to the limit. So I’d like to congratulate the team for holding on so well, and having the composure to go all the way.

“We’ve won three in a row now, and the team really deserves this. It’s because they do it that I can have this honour.”

Having swept the overwhelming majority of the major honours at domestic level in his 30 months in charge at Choa Chu Kang, Bok is already looking forward to the team’s next challenge – the qualification phase for next year’s Asian Champions League.

Club captain Aleksandar Duric and midfield general Therdsak Chaiman are set to lead the continental charge for the Warriors once again next season, even though both are already past their 35th birthdays.

Both men have been nominated for the Player of the Year award in this year’s Awards Night, in recognition of the key contributions they have made to the club’s success this term.

Bok believes Duric and Therdsak still have plenty to offer to complement younger legs such as Shaiful Esah and Hafiz Osman, citing their dedicated and professional work ethic.

“My policy has always been about both experience and youth,” he noted.

“We always have a mix of both, and if you want to win championships, I believe you need the experience. You cannot put all of it on young players to do it.

“In terms of attitude and work ethic, Duric and Therdsak are right up there, and fitness-wise they are still better than many others. Hopefully I can bring in a few more players who can help them out, but they’re still there for me.

“You may never find another player like Therdsak to replace Therdsak. But we will learn to make adjustments if and when we need them.”

The 39-year-old also singled out Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin for special mention, after the latter had scored the goal against Home that clinched SAFFC the title.

The peroxide-haired midfielder had, for a long time, been seen as a controversial figure in Singapore football, following a series of incidents at both club and national team level.

Latiff has however been trouble-free so far with the authorities in his second spell with the Warriors, having run afoul of the referee only three times in his 21 appearances for the club this season.

That SAFFC’s top brass have never cited any issues at all with the 29-year-old is also noteworthy, and Bok explained that Latiff’s good record since joining the club in July had to do with the club’s willingness to understand him and cater to his needs.

“I have always had a very good working relationship with Ahmad Latiff,” he revealed.

“When he was here on National Service and then as a professional player, we’ve had a good understanding with each other. That’s why he has been a revelation for us.

“I think you need to know how to handle him, because he is a different kind of player from others. He has a unique character, but he understands us and we understand him.

“That mutual understanding is why he has been so good for us. I guess you can say that’s why we have succeeded with him where others have failed.”

Whether Latiff and a number of other players will stay on with the club next year or not will only be clear after the RHB Singapore Cup final on the coming Friday, when the club faces Woodlands Wellington at Jalan Besar Stadium.

With the league title already in the bag, the Cup holders are widely tipped as favourites to retain that trophy as well as they ride on their crest of high morale.

But while Bok may be in jubilant mood himself, he remains focused on getting the job at hand done first before entertaining questions on any possible player movements.

“For this club, the policy has always been that we will finish the season first before talking to the players,” he stressed.

“The players know this, and they’ve shown the professionalism. Whether they know or not if they’re still here next year, they are still training hard and performing well.

“There’s still Friday to look forward to, and the players know we have no pressure. That said, we’re all hoping to do the double double.”

Tam Cheong Yan

www.sleague.com