Defending S-League champions Singapore Armed Forces FC will have a chance to make their mark once more in Asia’s most prestigious club tournament after beating Indonesia’s Sriwijaya FC 3-on 30 January to progress to the second stage of the Asian Champions League East Zone Playoffs.

 

All the goals were scored by the Warriors new signings, with Japanese winger Taisuke Akiyoshi settling SAFFC’s nerves with a seventh minute opener, before Uruguayan striker Federico Martinez and his fellow strike partner, Indra Sahdan scored a penalty each in the second half to seal the victory.

 

To be fair, Sriwijaya did not exactly cave in. In fact, the Indonesians, who had Singaporean international Precious Emuejeraye in their defence, posed the Warriors plenty of problems and if not for their profligacy in front of goal and having a player sent off in the second half, the scoreline could have been very different. That was a fact not lost on Sriwijaya coach, Rahmad Darmawan.

 

“We did not play badly, we created six opportunities, but that one goal would not come. This is a problem for my team, and homework for me,” said Darwaman at the post match conference.

 

SAFFC coach Bok was pleased to have progressed to the second stage, but admitted that his side “has still a lot of improvement to make”.

 

Indeed, if the Warriors can make the improvements in time for the next match against either Da Nang of Vietnam or Muangthong United of Thailand, then the Warriors will have earned the right once more to the Promised Land.

 

In 2009, SAFFC became the first ever Singapore club to play in the Asian Champions League. Despite finishing bottom of their group which consisted three of the biggest names in Asian football- Shanghai Shenhua, Kashima Antlers and Suwon Samsung Blue Wings- Richard Bok’s men gave an excellent account of themselves and made many people sit up and take notice.