Albirex coach not fixated on records
Albirex nearing a clean sweep for a third straight year, but coach not harping on achievements
| ALBIREX NIIGATA | BRUNEI DPMM |
Albirex Niigata might be on the cusp of a remarkable unbeaten season, but they are refusing to let themselves dream ahead of their last match of the season - the RHB Singapore Cup final tomorrow.
The Japanese side, who became the first team to win the Singapore Premier League without losing a match, could extend that invincibility to the Cup when they take on Brunei DPMM at Jalan Besar Stadium in tomorrow's season finale.
Their record so far reads 25 wins, three draws, zero defeats across all competitions.
If they beat DPMM, they will also complete a clean sweep of all domestic trophies for the third straight season, having also won the Community Shield.
However, White Swans coach Kazuaki Yoshinaga is uninterested in contemplating all those records.
Speaking after the 4-2 aggregate win over Home United in their Singapore Cup semi-final on Wednesday, he told The New Paper: "We do not think of any records. For us, what we have achieved in the past remains in the past.
"More importantly, we face the next match, which is the final, and our players will give our best and (give) the supporters a good game and a win...
"DPMM have not been beaten in the last 10 games. Rene Weber is a very good coach, he has helped to improve a lot of the players, so we will prepare well."
Albirex are also keen to send off goalkeeper Yohsuke Nozawa, 39, on a good note. The final will be his last match for the club after four years and 12 trophies.
While the Wasps might be on an unbeaten run, their last loss (3-1) was by Albirex on Aug 7 in the league. The White Swans have also beaten DPMM in two other league matches this season, 2-0 in April and 5-0 in June.
The Wasps also wobbled in the second leg of their Singapore Cup semi-final against Balestier Khalsa on Wednesday, going 2-0 down, before fighting back to draw the match 2-2 and progress 4-2 on aggregate.
Former Brazil Under-20 coach Weber said after the match: "At the start of the season, I said I came to do something this season. So, I hope to win the final and write our name into the history (books)."
- KIMBERLY KWEK
THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF
- Home United v Balestier Khalsa
(Tomorrow, 5pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now