AN EARLY SHAWAL FEAST - HOUGANG UNITED VS ALBIREX NIIGATA

Good evening and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all the Hougang fans. Ramadhan has left us dearly, and this also goes our chance for silverware this year.

Two days before Eid, our Cheetahs fell 1-5 to Tampines Rovers, thus ending our opportunity of silverware and the chance to be the only team to go for three straight SG Cup finals.

We actually needed a draw, but unfortunately calamity goalkeeping and the change of our defensive line outdone all the good work in the first half.

However, the season hasnt ended yet, we are left with six games and the last two months of a gruelling painful season where our line up has changed 65 times. We have rarely played the same team for two games, and only under Robert Eziakor, there seems to be preferred tactics and personnel that seems to be working for the team thus far.

THE WOUNDED SWANS.

The first game after Ramadhan will be another tie against Albirex Niigata. Its our fifth time playing them and this season record we are 2-2 against them.

The Jurong East outfit shockingly lost almost all their SG Cup ties, ending bottom in group A without any points. A 1-7 defeat against Young Lions in the last match needing them to call for moral reinforcements when they come visting Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday.

The Cheetahs will have Zaiful Nizam back in goal. If his health permits, we will be most likely seeing Anders back in centre back again. The 32 year old defender has been out for 19 months and recently reintegrated to the line up back, but we should not risk too much of him for his recovery. Apart from a niggling back problem for top scorer Dejan Raciic, we might most likely see a fit Cheetahs side waiting to pounce on any dropped points by the teams immediately above, including Albirex, whose top half finish are seriously in danger.

We would like for more fans to come by on this Saturday evening game if you dont have plans for visiting Raya. Let’s go Cheetahs!!