May 11, 2004

It is not easy filling the boots of former SAFFC legend Mirko Grabovac (1999-2003), who is now playing for Tampines Rovers especially if you are still breaking out in the professional arena.

However Ashrin Shariff is proving that he could the man to replace Mirko Grabovac as the scoring machine of the Warriors. The 21-year-old striker is currently the leading scorer for the Warriors with 9 goals in 10 matches. He has already equalled his previous best goal tally for the whole of the 2001 season.

Despite what he has done for the Warriors this season he feel he cannot claimed any credit with the pressure not as tough on him as he is still consider a young player. Also without the team support he has being enjoying he will not have played as well especially his partnership with Jon Angelucci as the Australian lays off the ball which he make the diagonal runs to score.

One person to note the striking partnership is SAFFC coach Jimmy Shoulder as he is in no doubt that the strkeforce could achieved much this season.
He say the quality of Angelucci passes to Ashrin has been excellent & with Ashrin also responding to advice, the Warriors strikeforce would progress even further as Ashrin can only get better with time. Shoulder felt Ashrin drifted to the flanks too often in the past when he should be getting into goal-scoring positions but with each passing game he is improving.
For Ashrin his long-term target is to get into the senior national team, but at the moment, his short-term target is to play for the U23 team in the South-east Asia Games next year as he was disappointed about missing out last year competition owing to injury.

If he continues his red-hot form, it will only be a matter of time before he gets a call not only for the U23 but also the senior national team achieving both his ambitions.