May 30, 2004

Ishak Zainol and Khairul Amri were handed late tickets to Oman after being added to the national team by Lions coach Radojko Avramovic.

The Lions leave for the World Cup qualifier in the Middle-East on Thursday morning & Avramovic had found himself short of players after losing midfielders Tan Kim Leng, Mustaqim Manzur & defender Razif Mahamud through injury.

Certainly he has never shied away from introducing new blood into the national team as since his appointment as Singapore national coach in August last year, Radojko Avramovic has called up the likes of Farizal Basri, Sazali Salleh, Ashrin Shariff, Ridhuan Muhammad and Baihakki Khaizan.

This time he has turned to Tanjong Pagar United midfielder Ishak & Young Lions Amri.

He felt Ishak has been showing good attitude wining the ball in midfield & keeping it simple, which is the best style of football for Singapore at the moment. As for Amri, Avramovic see him as a talented kid who needs time but this call-up will give him a lift & motivate him to work hard to stay in the national team.

Avramovic stated this is a signal to all young players in the S-League that they are being looked at & if they deserve it they will be called into the national team.

24-year-old Ishak started his S-League career with Gombak United before moving to Sengkang Marine 2 seasons ago. With the withdrawal of the Dolphins from the S-League last year, the hardworking midfielder signed for Tanjong Pagar United. As for 19-year-old forward Khairul Amri since his dazzling performances in the U-18 side 2 years ago, he has been reckoned to have huge potential & has come off the bench regularly to turn heads in his debut season this year.

Despite the presence of the new faces, Avramovic insists the Lions are not going to Oman just for the experience but to get a result.

He know Oman are the favourites but his philosophy is that if you think you can't beat your opponent, you might as well not play so they will play positively & Singapore will benefit from that.

• Adi Salleh (SAFFC)
• Shahril Jantan (Geylang United)
• Hassan Sunny (Young Lions)

• S Subramani (Home United)
• Aide Iskandar (Home United)
• Zulkarnaen Zainal (Tampines Rovers)
• Noh Rahman (Geylang United)
• Farizal Basri (Young Lions)
• Daniel Bennett (SAFFC)
• Baihakki Khaizan (Young Lions)

• Shahril Ishak (Young Lions)
• Ridhuan Muhammad (Young Lions)
• Nazri Nasir (Tampines Rovers)
• Ishak Zainol (Tanjong Pagar United)
• Hasrin Jailani (Geylang United)
• Syed Fadhil (Young Lions)
• Ahmad Latiff (Woodlands Wellington)
• Noor Ali (Geylang United)

• Indra Sahdan (Home United)
• Ashrin Shariff (SAFFC)
• Agu Casmir (Young Lions)
• Khairul Amri (Young Lions).