SEA GAMES 2011: SHAHDAN AIMS FOR GOLD IN SWANSONG MEET

JAKARTA (6 Nov 2011) – Singapore are looking to win their first gold medal at the SEA Games – and they know that they will have to get past Malaysia first in their first game in Group A tomorrow to show their  seriousness.

The Singapore-Malaysia tie will be the opening act tomorrow at the Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno with the second game between hosts Indonesia and Cambodia taking to the field in the second tie.

The other team in Group A is powerhouse Thailand, who will be chasing their 14^th crown at the biennial championship.

“It is somehow good that we get to meet the power houses first. We will take a harder route of qualifying ourselves to the knock-out stages,” said Shahdan.

“Hopefully, we clear the tough games first, and that will even out the competition. After all, if you want to win the competition, we will have to beat the best no matter what. So it does not matter who we meet and when we meet them.”

Shahdan was part of the Singapore squad which made the semi-finals of the competition but on both occasion (2007 and 2009), they have had to settle for the bronze.

“Last two SEA Games, we only managed a bronze medal, hopefully we can better that this time around,” quipped Shahdan wh0 is one of the more senior players in the squad.

“The pressure is always there. But it is good pressure being one of the senior players. You know that this is your last chance to win the gold medal at the SEA Games and it makes you want to give all you have on the pitch. It will spur the whole team forward. A positive kind of pressure.”

Singapore’s best outing at the SEA Games was back in 1989 – when they won the silver medal – losing to arch rivals Malaysia 3-1 in the final.

SEA GAMES FIXTURES
GROUP A