Hi, we are back for the latest episode of the Football Talk episodes with the SPL Clubs and this is the SPL Preview. And today with me is the head coach of Geylang International Football Club. But before that, click on the follow button. We are out everywhere on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts. Welcome to the podcast, Mr Noraly.
Speaker 2:Mr. Thanks for having me here, man. I think, my second time here, yeah.
Speaker 1:And we are here obviously for the SPL preview and obviously for Geylang International Football Club. But before we go on talking about this season, let's talk about last season as well. How, what do you think? Was the season? Like last season?
Speaker 2:It's a very inconsistent season for us, you know. I think, based on, I think, what was key, we started the season quite well.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I think the loss of Foozaifah and Vincent in the team distract a bit in terms of the momentum going forward. You know so, because you know this, especially Vincent, he was a key player for us, you know so. Then the season becomes a bit, you know, haywire for us.
Speaker 1:What pleased you the most last season?
Speaker 2:I mean the boys keep on fighting, you know, they know that. You know, they know that. You know to compare with certain teams out there in the league last season, you know it was very difficult for us to actually to put out even 20 players for training sessions. You know, but I think credit to the players. They know what was the obstacles that they have to go through every single game.
Speaker 2:But I think what was important last year was every game was very tactical for us you know, and we only have a few match winners, and you know we managed to scrap some games.
Speaker 1:Three points in terms of I think you were saying about trying to get players for training sessions and even for matches. Right, the reason was because of the streamlined budget for the side last season, or what was the reason? Or injuries mostly.
Speaker 2:I mean basically injuries. And usually when we work in Geylang I mean I've been there for 9 years basically we work about 14 to 15 strong players in the squad and the rest will depend a lot on the young boys. You know, I think getting these young boys to training sessions is not easy, especially their commitments with internships and schools, you know. But you know that disrupts a bit in terms of your preparation towards the week for the game.
Speaker 1:You talk about. You know the players' fighting spirit, and all right. What was the most disappointing part of the season last year? I?
Speaker 2:think the disappointing part. I think especially the red cards, you know, because I think it's a bit unnecessary. Especially how many did you all get? I mean, I don't know, I think it's a bit unnecessary especially, how many did y'all get?
Speaker 1:I mean, I don't know, I think Ahmad got like three red cards.
Speaker 2:One for just tackling under the fullest leg, you know. So I mean, like that was the disappointing part for me Because, for example, when we played against Balestier last season, when we were fighting the fourth place and then we got two sent off and then it just you knowed around the whole Complex of the game which we think that you know we could Stand a chance down there, I think. To finish, 4th I think it's excellent For us last season, but I think 5th Is quite reasonable for us.
Speaker 1:But was it disappointing To finish behind Balestier? I mean.
Speaker 2:I was not disappointed Finishing behind Balestier. I think we've We've beaten them twice in the league, but I think we lost the most important game that could have clinched the 4th position for us. But again we must give credit to Ballet State. They were a different side last season. They were a very attacking side. It was not easy playing against them.
Speaker 2:I think they were one of the better teams that could have finished 4th so it was quite a close call, but I think they deserve it you guys scored 41 goals last season and conceded 52.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right, you see that as something that you can improve on. I mean, obviously in terms of goals, especially right, you can score more goals, but conceding 52 yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean, of course, you see, like a very good example where why Ballet still finished 4th. I think they have scored so many goals last season, you know. I mean I think that was key for them, you know for them like they score, but Diaz is a little bit extreme, you know, because of the goal.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they conceded one of the worst you know.
Speaker 2:I think my main reason is because that the most important thing power up there.
Speaker 2:Last season I was depending a lot on Yushi and even it was nice to see people like Nafua Iqbal getting some of the goals down there. So we don't score a lot and we also try to keep a bit compact at certain times of the game. But also, if you look at the games that we considered, quite a lot is basically Abrax that was quite a tough team to play last season, and then, and every time when we start to play with 10 men 9 men that becomes, that becomes a problem. If not, I think from the start we were quite close in terms of that.
Speaker 1:I think when you were talking about the lack of goals, you know, like a main forward, a focal point, I think you might have already addressed that this season. We'll talk about that later on. Right, going forward towards this season, you know it's going to be a long season, obviously, right. And what was your main area of concern? Trying to plug those gaps? What was the main one that you wanted to plug?
Speaker 2:I think first thing was, I think it's wanted to keep the core, core players, because you must have some stability in terms of that. That's why I kept players like Sakuma, joshua, huzaifa, taka, because they basically know what I want. And I think the key point was bringing these attacking players in, because we have always been an issue. Besides, we signed Zuzul that one year. We did very well that year and we had never had a proper number 9. And I think this year, with the addition of Doy, I think he will give a different aspect in terms of the game.
Speaker 1:You know I think I've spoken to two coaches already and it's like a merry-go-round players going from one club to another and whatever, and obviously you're going to lose players, the players that you've lost. Let me read out to you Amirul Adli is one, fadli Khamis you've lost them. Nazim to Haugang, back to Haogang, hafiz to Ballester, shafiq Ghani and, yeah, these local players. Are they going to be a miss to you? Do you think?
Speaker 2:definitely Amirul, I think he could have been an asset for me this season he'd be in Tampines. I think. But again, of course, when players do well Amirul Ali was without a club last season, you know and then we bring him in and I think he did quite well for us and of course you get better offers from other clubs and I think that's good for him to.
Speaker 2:You know to get this kind of big contracts. So I'm happy for Amirul if he goes to Amirul and get a better contract, you know. For the rest of the players I think I would say at this point in time I would rather give the young ones an opportunity at that position, because you cannot have 25, 26-year-olds becoming passengers in the team you know you need. If that happens, then I would rather pick up the young ones.
Speaker 1:Who were they? I think most of them actually.
Speaker 2:So you know, I think if that is the case, then I would rather give the opportunity to the younger ones to step up.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about the big one that you miss. You probably miss Yushi Yamaya. You know, I think you know. I commentated on the games and I watched the games and he was one of the best foreigners last season. Superb, you know, attacking me, got pace and he works as well.
Speaker 2:He's going to be a big miss definitely with this team, because you got like you got Roya, you have Dor, you have Iqbal, you have Naufoy, you have Vincent, you know, and if we could have keep him, you know it would be nice, but he was on loan, you know. But again he gives me a different aspect of the game, because the boy is damn fast, he's good with his crosses, it's just that he doesn't have the football brains. He's very direct in terms of that. But for this team it would be good for us. But again I think he's doing well. He got a better contract. I think he's in Denmark right now and that's good for him.
Speaker 1:I want to talk about Huzaifa and Vincent Bezicor. I think you spoke about these two players who were injured last season. I think they were a big miss. Basically, I think you, what do they bring to the team, huzaifa and Vincent?
Speaker 2:I mean, I've not seen Huzaifa his best, even before I signed him.
Speaker 1:I think so too.
Speaker 2:I've signed him because I need a left footer in the centre, so I decided to go with him. But this guy is class. He's class on and off the field. He's very good, very good left foot. He knows how to keep the tempo of the game and he and Taka actually complement each other, you know, and, I think, one of the best professional players I've seen, even in terms of taking care of himself. You know, and working hard. And I think for Vincent, that's one key point that you don't have many good number 10s in the league, key point that you don't have many good number 10s in the league. Yeah, and this guy, this guy also is a different class in terms of on and off the field. So that's, I think that's the, that's why I say these two are the key players so he's recovered fully.
Speaker 1:He's ready to go.
Speaker 2:I mean, both of them recovered fully, but we both of them have just started training with me you know, so I'm not going to force them into the season. I think what's important is that you know, is to keep them fit throughout the whole season. Like how you see earlier on, it's a very, very long season. So the advantage part if I have Roya also as a number 10, so in case if I need to rest, Vinny.
Speaker 1:I want to talk about your foreigners, right, and I think I'm just looking at the list of foreigners that you've got. Let's take Tezuka, obviously, and Sakuma Bezuko. I think we spoke a little bit about him. Let's talk about the other three, or actually four, right, taniguchi, you know from Ballestier, one of the top scorers last season. We all know what he can do attackingly and whatnot. Right, what does he bring to this Geylang side? Because, yeah, attackingly is he going to do that defensive work as well?
Speaker 2:I mean, the day I signed him, a lot of people were saying, like, you know, he's quite lazy, he doesn't work hard, you know, and he only wants to play when the ball is with him. You know. But I think he has surprised me in terms of that during the pre-season period. He's willing to work hard, willing to press, willing to, you know, defend and, of course, when you get this kind of ball players, you know, he gives you the intelligence of the game, you know, and you like have two number 10s in the team right now and he can give you goals, you know. So, definitely, you have to work as a team, you know. You cannot expect him to defend 100%. I know it's modern football, you know, and everybody has to defend. Yeah, you defend in certain areas, but at the end of the day, you know, you have players like Huzaifa and everyone who has to do that kind of work for him let's talk about Doy.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about Doy. We spoke about the lack of goals just now. We all know what he can do. We all know what he can do. He was top scorer a couple of seasons back with Hao Gang. I remember right. He's going to be an asset, isn't he?
Speaker 2:Oh, I mean definitely, man. I mean you see how he finishes, you know, and his movement.
Speaker 1:Okay, let's talk about the training. Wise, right, because we all from the outside people watching from the outside. He's a great finisher, he's a goal scorer, or whatever. How about in training? Can you see the difference?
Speaker 2:the gulf this is the thing about this group of I mean, everyone knows in the league that you know I always love this Japanese players and this is the reason why I say you know they come early to do and after they finish, they still do and the way you sit down and you just see Dois you know left right finish down there. Even without pressure, you know he still wants to aim at the top corner he wants to make sure that everything is perfect for him, and it happens it always for them.
Speaker 2:It's always game related. You have to be realistic in what you do, and it's always nice to have this group of players doing extra and it just gives a bit more motivation to the local boys to come out and even do that also nice.
Speaker 1:Hopefully he hits the ground running and I think, and the good thing is, he already knows the culture, he already knows the football. So you know, I think that's already an advantage for you. Haria Keto, haria, keto, haria. We all know from last season and I don't know whether he was there for two years.
Speaker 2:He was there for two years.
Speaker 1:He can play across the back anywhere, you know. Very versatile. We all know what he can do. Brilliant, you know, I think one of the lesser known players, but brilliant. Let's talk about Tanaka Sora. I don't know, obviously I don't know about him. He's a loanee from Matsumoto Yamaga. What does he bring? And?
Speaker 2:what position Does he play? He plays on On the Okay. He basically Can play across the attacking line. So he was playing as a 9 in Yamaga, you know. But I have Doi In this position. But he also can play Out wide right.
Speaker 2:And left, you know. So he gives me A different dimension In the game. You know, quite strong guy 1v be one and has a good flair in terms of that. So I think it's a good competition because Iqbal also has shown a lot of potential. So that gives a good fight in terms of that position.
Speaker 1:Speaking of Iqbal, how is he doing? Because we know, last season he was good, he was scoring goals. There was a period where he was scoring goals and got called up for national team. I think he got injured, you know, during the call up period and whatever. So I think with these kind of players, they need consistency, right, they need to show it consistently. I think that's the thing. How has he been doing during training, pre-season and whatever?
Speaker 2:I mean Iqbal has changed a lot for me you know, since last season he has worked hard, because I still remember when he came back I think he was laid off For one year again. So I always find out, I always think that I'm always like a rehab centre.
Speaker 1:Maybe you are man.
Speaker 2:So Iqbal came and I still remember the first day when we First game we played Penang in pre-season, 20 minutes I took him out and because he was not even At that condition to play. But he just keep working hard, doing his own run, doing his own program and everything. And gradually, as the season goes on, he starts to I think you can see Iqbal More of a team player Than just individual, like we always to see. You always Love to see him on the ball, but at the end he doesn't have the end product.
Speaker 2:But, now you see what Iqbal can do, and it's nice to see that when he starts to link up more and get himself into good position in terms of attacking. That's nice to see, and he has been working hard. What is?
Speaker 1:it to you like? Is it because no one knows exactly like what is his right or most effective position? Is he an out-and-out striker? Is he a winger? What is he behind the striker? What is he? A number 9? Number 10?
Speaker 2:Nobody knows, Okay. But again, that's the advantage of having Iqbal, Because when you have Iqbal and you need a tactical change and you know where you want him to be and that's where Iqbal is very, very important. So that's the quality he has he can break defence, he's strong on V1 and you know there's a few games that we just told Iqbal. We just switched him from a left winger to a right winger just because we want him to be in that position, because we know he will create a lot of problems in that position. That is something good about Iqbal.
Speaker 1:You know you can use him because he's very smart in terms of that. I think most players, including Iqbal and all these players that can play in a few positions and you don't exactly know where to specifically put them, they are very undervalued. Actually, of course, they are very undervalued and they are not always the stars of the team, but they are very, very important and I think you said it there about Iqbal. Well done Pre-season. How has pre-season been? I know Coaches are saying that it's a long season, but you know, I think it is what it is. We gotta just go on with it Because it's the new Whatever you wanna call New norm or whatever. How has pre-season been For you?
Speaker 2:guys. I mean for me it has been good Because we actually Started our first six weeks Only with strength Conditioning. There was no football. Started football about maybe 3 weeks because we know that season is going to be very long and so far I've seen good progression because usually at this point in time I've already a lot of injuries. So it's nice to see that the boys are putting in effort in the first part of the 6 weeks and you can see a different physical condition they are in when they go into the football session.
Speaker 2:I think that gives us a bit of preparing them better for the long season because you know usually you don't have that much time to focus on the strength and conditioning it has to be incorporated during the season. But it's nice to have that six weeks first.
Speaker 1:Is that probably why, like you know, in this so-called pre-season friendly games that FA has introduced, right? Is that probably why most of the teams or players who are playing are not the full? Because they need to get prepared properly first. They need to know when is the first game, for example, before. Is that the reason why I?
Speaker 2:think yeah, for me, I've not fielded, I've not fielded the first team yet a full team, yet there's only one game.
Speaker 2:Because I think there was a reason they wanted to see certain players and I just put them in and at half time I look at them and I say, looking at the condition, these boys are not ready yet. I think we know that the season Is going to start in May and you have like Five months of pre-season and then you end next year June, first June With the Cubs and everything, and if you don't manage we don't have 30 players in the squad, we basically have maximum 20 to 22 players.
Speaker 2:You know so. If you don't manage this, then this is going to be a big problem, you know so.
Speaker 1:I think that that was important for me during the prep in terms of the pre-season if you take away all the players that we mentioned, right, is there any one or two players to look out for for Geylang this season? If you take out the usual suspects right, you know Bezekor and Iqbal Do you have any one or two players that you think could be a breakout season maybe?
Speaker 2:For this season. It's very hard for me. Okay, Because every season I would have said maybe one player, Because I think after nine years in Geylang, I've seen the quality side down here. What I want to see is the difference in terms of having an individual player. I want to see the team out there going out and perform better than the last few seasons.
Speaker 1:Come on, name one, maybe a young player that you think maybe.
Speaker 2:I have a very good few young players In the under 21. I think one of them Is a centre back Called Banabi, but he's a foreign, foreign player, but he's quite good. I think that's one potential guy, eksan. I think he's quite good. These two boys, I think the hardest part this season is that, with the 6 foreigners and 5 local players, that's the. That's the hardest part of them breaking into the team, like the last few seasons right you asked me first team.
Speaker 2:Very hard for me to actually pick one so let's get this right first.
Speaker 1:So in a game now, six foreigners can start correct, so six foreigners can start right. Okay, I think the youth players now they've got to really be a little bit more extra in terms of whatever talent, quality and whatever to really break out into the team, and I think that's going to be a big ask for them, right? What can we expect from Geylang this season in terms of without really revealing, you know, whatever secrets or whatever in terms of formations or whatever? What can we expect? The brand of football?
Speaker 2:there's no secrets. We play 4 times. After the first game, everything is out. After the first game, everything is out. You know, and you gotta face everyone 3 times more plus the cup you know. So I think for me is that if you talk about Geylang, strengthening up the squad, but we must not forget that every single team has strengthened the squad, you know. So I think what's important is that there's a certain way we want to play. I mean there's a certain way that I've always wanted to play, and you know.
Speaker 1:Which is. Okay, let's take forget about the side, forget about the team that you have now. Okay, what kind of football would you?
Speaker 2:I mean everyone knows I love the possession-based football you know, and then high pressing you know, and then you counter-press up there, you know, try to win the ball higher up, but it's not easy doing that because you know you need to have a set of players which you can sign and you know put it across.
Speaker 2:Whatever you want, you know, and you have certain qualities, I have certain qualities. I have certain qualities last two seasons. But, like I said, when injuries come in, it becomes very hard to replace that player, you know. But I think this season I have the group of players that I want to play. The football I want to play, you know. So I mean, everybody knows this, I mean whoever who has played for me, they know this. You know, if you cannot run, if you cannot press, then it becomes very hard to play.
Speaker 2:For me, you know, and in terms of how to ball, I think mobility is key in my team. Everybody has to move, you know, and we have a certain way. We want to play Okay, because, for me, I think I'm more going into a game that, instead of staying with a certain philosophy. The philosophy doesn't change, you know, but what's important is that players must be, they must be able to adapt to tactical changes when it happens, you know. So this is very important. How to educate this is not easy. You need smart players, you need intelligent players who understand the way.
Speaker 1:You know, I want to play you talk about the way that you want to play. You talk about the way that you want to play and stuff right. Are you I wouldn't say happy are you satisfied with the players that you've got that you brought in to then fit into whatever system that you want to play For this year?
Speaker 2:yes, Because I think I mean you have watched a few Gilang games and you see something that we don't stick to, a certain formation, tactical changes in the team. So I'm happy to see that I can play a back three this season if I want to, and you know I have very good three defensive midfielders out there.
Speaker 2:You know, who can do the job. I have three good centre back, or four centre back, equally Joshua out there. You know, I have Shaqay, I have Ahmad, I have Nakudin who can play. Oh, okay, if you talk about one player that will break out this season. Oh, now I mentioned his name.
Speaker 1:Now I remember you forgot.
Speaker 2:I think Nakudin will be the one.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Because I think the boy Is a national player.
Speaker 1:Material you know.
Speaker 2:He's got good speed, good crosses, good energy, excellent attitude, you know, I mean, I signed him when I see him in Tanjung Baga, but I didn't know that this boy actually has more, whatever you know I've seen him, so Nakuding is one of them nice.
Speaker 1:Finally, noali, your goals and targets for the club and the side this season. It could be in terms of position, in terms of points total. Whatever, what is your target?
Speaker 2:I mean definitely we want to do better than the last few seasons, you know, but of course at the club level we want to finish because we have always been In the mid-table. It would be nice if we can, you know, finish in the top 3 this season. You know, and I think the boys know, how important this season Is for Geylang. Especially it's our 50th anniversary, you know 50th, yeah, 50th anniversary. Maybe your time is what 28th I think so. So I think so, so not that bad lah yeah, not that bad lah, so it's the Geylang 15th anniversary.
Speaker 2:I think everybody wants to do well for the club.
Speaker 1:You know this season and definitely we want to be in top 3 and again, definitely, afc is always something that Geylang wants to be part of every year and something that has, you know, the year that we qualified and COVID comes in so so hopefully nothing comes in if we qualify this time around this is something extra that I wanted to ask right, do you actually set like individual goals for individual players, like okay, for example, doy, you know you pull him aside and say this is your target for this season 25 goals?
Speaker 2:okay. So what we do is this is not. This is every season. Every season, when we go for pre-season, we have I have an individual meeting With the players.
Speaker 2:I don't set targets for them. I want them to set that target for themselves. You know, they must be, they must, you know, have certain expectations In themselves. You know, I don't set a target and say let's put pressure on them. I think it's good that they know what they can do and let them set the target For themselves of you know. So they know that, okay, I've reached here. I've reached here, you know. But at the same time, I will tell them what's my expectations from them. You know, wow, it sounds smart, salih. You know. So I set a certain expectations from them. You know I. You know what I need from them, what kind of behaviour. You know, so there's a few leaders in the team what kind of responsibility I need from them. You know, especially when you you have Joshua as the captain of the team, you know, actually, the captain, I must hang him in the deck, you know. So there are a few things that we actually do during the pre-season, and then, you know, we sort these things out nice, nice.
Speaker 1:Lastly, you know, ali, any message for the fans who've been following you guys everywhere, you know, from OTH to, from OTH to OTH to Jalan Besar. You know, it's so weird that, you know, even playing on home ground seems like you know, it doesn't matter in Singapore, right, yeah, any message for them, I mean.
Speaker 2:I need. First of all, I just want to thank them for always being there for the club you know been supporting. It was very nine years has been a very rough season for them coming. Don't know. Don't know what to expect from this. You know, I think keep supporting us. You know, calm down on our first game. I don't know where we're playing sorry we're playing.
Speaker 1:We're playing Vishan against Ballastier right it should be a good game, man yeah, that will.
Speaker 2:That should be a good game, man. Yeah, that will be a very good game, I think. So come down, keep supporting us this season. Definitely support the new kid.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I think it's quite nice this season, very nice kid that we have. I think he was one of the Ultra Eagles.
Speaker 1:Ah, it's green, or?
Speaker 2:It's green. Yeah, same like green-white. Ah, okay, okay, but but I think this season is quite nice something different. So go out there, get a kit and come down to the stadium and watch us on the 10th of May against Ballastier.
Speaker 1:No, ali, thank you so much. It's always been a pleasure talking to you, talking about football, talking about every other thing. I think it's always been a pleasure. Good luck to the team it's going to be a long season and wish you all the best. Obviously, stay free from injuries, not you, but the players. Again, this has been the latest episode of the Silver Fox Hustle podcast, the SPL preview with Geylang International. And till the next time, I see you soon. Cheers. Outro Music.