Despite playing at home and making their first ever appearance in the AFF Futsal Club Championship 2018, Indonesian side SKN FC remained sanguine that they can put up a good show.
SKN FC head coach Deny Handoyo said that players have to learn to adapt to pressure and that they should turn it around into a positive factor.
Other than SKN, Group A has Melaka United, Bangkok BTS and also Sanatech Khanh Hoa for company.
“We have a few experienced hands while 70% are younger players. We also have been working on some new strategy, so it will be an interesting game in the opener (against Melaka United),” said Deny.
“We are proud to be the representative for Indonesia and naturally, we want to do well. I hope that we will get some good support from the local fans.”
On the other hand, Melaka United head coach Mohamad Isah said that he is looking forward the game with pivot Khairul Effendy Bahrin – who recently moved from SKN to Melaka United – will be a factor.
“Last year, we had some players missing as they had gone to Brazil to play in the Neymar 5s. For this year, we hope to at least finished at the same level (third placing) or better,” added Isah.
“It will not be easy to emulate the success of Port FC – last year’s winner and who has won the title for the past three editions (2015, 2016 and 2017),” said Bangkok BTS head coach Suksan Sangsri.
“We are in the Group of Death, so we will have our work cut out.”
Sanatech Khanh Hoa head coach Prasert Innui added: “we are in very tough group for sure. It is difficult to predict how it will turn out.”
In the meantime in Group B, the fight will be more evenly balanced although two teams – Arbisyam from Brunei and also UYFC Komchaymear of Cambodia – are making their first ever appearance.
The other teams in the group are East Coast Heat FC from Australia and MIC Futsal Club from Myanmar.
“We are a new club where we finished as runners-up in the Brunei Futsal League in 2017,” said Arbisyam head coach Suzeemin.
“We are a really small club but we will try our best although we do not what to expect.”
UYFC head coach Phan Sophannara said that they are here for the experience.
“Our league is still new, so I think it will be hard to predict that we will win the runners-up spot or top the group,” added Phan.
East Coast Heat FC head coach James Brackenrig said: “we have brought a very young squad this time round. The youngest is just 17-years-old with an average age of around 22. Futsal in ASEAN is at a good level, so we want to get the experience to be better.”
MIC Futsal Club head coach Zaw Thu Maung said that he is excited of this year’s tournament as there will be a new champion being crowned following the absence of Port FC.
“We see several new clubs so that is good for the championship,” added Thu Maung.
“This is the third time that we are taking part, so naturally we want to improve on our performances.”
