COLD CONDITIONS A FACTOR FOR LIONS

The Lions, fresh from their semi-final defeat in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008, are hoping to pick up the pieces of their battered pride with the opening game of the qualifiers against Asian powerhouse Iran in Teheran.

The current temperature in Iran is -8 degrees celcius.

“The last time the team played under such below zero conditions was against Japan for the World Cup 2006 qualifying round,” said Eugene Loo, the team manager for Singapore.

“But I feel confident that the players can adjust to the cold conditions especially when they already have several days to adjust in Dubai.

In the meantime, Singapore national coach Radojko Avramovic was a little relieved that several players from the crock list are making their way back to fitness.

The likes of captain Indra Sahdan Daud, Mustaqim Mansur and Agu Casmir have since recovered from their ailments.

For the moment though, the concern is on midfielder Mustafic Fahrudin, who sustained an ankle injury in a friendly against the Singapore Under-23 squad last Saturday.