Protectors signal title ambitions

As fate would have it, the Protectors were the first club to hold their pre-season press conference at their new swanky clubhouse down at East Coast in Singapore.

First could be a very frequently used word in the new season if the Protectors can get their star signings to gel in time.

With new recruits, Frederic Mendy, Qiu Li and Kim Dae Eui flanking him, Korean coach Lee Lim Saeng kicked things off by signaling his objective for the coming season.

Lim said: "The team has just got back from a training camp in South Korea and the experience gained over there will be valuable as we prepare for the new season.

"I feel sorry that I could not deliver the title to Home United last season and I hope we can make it right this time. I go into the new season with hopes that we will be crowned champions."

The Protectors finished third in the league last season behind champions Etoile FC and local rivals, Tampines Rovers.

In a bid to furnish coach Lim with a better squad than he had in his debut season, the club got out and did their transfer business early, securing Japanese defender Kenji Arai and Mendy to bolster an already solid line-up that comprises the likes of Valery Hiek, Shi Jiayi and Juma'at Jantan.

Team manager, Mr Suppiah Mahalingam reckons the incoming players will be a great addition to the club and is looking forward to a successful 2011 season.

"Our aim in the off-season was to cover the loopholes and address the areas that we were lacking in last year. We lost Shahril Ishak, who was our main source of goals and so the key area was to bring in some attacking options.

"There was a lot of competition to get the signature of Mendy, with a club in India also keen on his services, but we managed to convince the man to join us.

"With the signing of Kenji Arai, he and Valery Hiek will form a very good defensive pairing at the back and we are hoping for great things this season." chirped Mahalingam.

However, assistant coach, S.Subramani was quick to quash rising expectations when he said: "On paper, we have a very strong squad. However, the players will need to work hard and play to their potential. If not, the good preparation will go to waste."

Having taken Qiu Li off the books of one of their main title rivals, Tampines Rovers, Home United are looking very strong as they go into the 2011 S.League season with intentions to win their first league title since 2003.

The Protectors will start their season on 15 February, with an away game at Toa Payoh stadium against Balestier Khalsa FC.

Home United 2011 Team List

Siddiq Durimi

Farizal Basri

Kenji Arai

Juma'at  Jantan

Shahril Alias

Shi Jiayi

Nor Azli Yusoff

Kim Dae Eui

Frederic Mendy

Isa Halim

Firdaus Idros

Valery Hiek

Rosman Sulaiman

Asraf Rashid

Qiu Li

Lionel Lewis

Sufian Anuar

Faizal Samad