Bacina aware of Stags expectations

The Croat was unveiled as the man in charge of the Stags for the 2013 season last week and plenty are already expecting big things from him, after he led Hougang United to a respectable 8th-place finish in the Great Eastern-YEO's S.League last season with a modest budget.

Although Tampines won back-to-back titles in the last two campaigns, the fact that Bacina is their third coach in three years, following in the footsteps of Steven Tan and Tay Peng Kee, points at just how much pressure there is to succeed on all fronts, and not just in one competition.

Despite last season's league triumph, they lost out in the RHB Singapore Cup final and League Cup semi-final to SAFFC and Geylang International respectively, and also fell to a disappointing group-stage exit in the AFC Cup.

Speaking candidly, Bacina admitted the onus was on him to improve on last term's overall performances, but revealed he was looking to thrive on the lofty expectations set by the Stags hierarchy.

"There is nothing to hide from," he said. "There is definitely pressure, but life is about the pressure.

"Those who want to sit in the shade and don't like challenges can hide, but I'm not like that. I like challenges.

"I know I'm not the best coach in the world but I will do my best. This challenge is pushing me even harder because we are the champions - expectations are very high.

"I'll try to meet these expectations but, at the end of the day, this is football. The world will continue to revolve even if I don't succeed in meeting the expectations, but I will definitely try to do my best."

While they have retained the majority of last year's title-winning squad, Tampines have reinforced heavily by bringing in a trio of Singapore internationals in Khairul Amri, Shahdan Sulaiman and Shaiful Esah, who were all part of the side that won the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, as well as marquee Argentinean signing Martin Wagner.

As such, one of Bacina's biggest challenges is bound to be keeping all his big names happy throughout the campaign, but he was unafraid to lay down the law by declaring the players had to be aware that the team comes first.

"From the first day of pre-season, I told my players only some of us will be happy at the end of the season," he revealed. "It's part of football and part of life.

"Whether they are happy or unhappy, they still have to work and contribute to the team. This is no secret.

"My football philosophy is no matter how they are playing - 90 minutes, 30 minutes, one half or five seconds - they have to contribute and give their best.

"I think these players on the list this season can do it. They are all honest, very good people and I'm sure they all have their personal objectives and expectations - I'm okay with that.

"But at the same time they are very conscious of the fact that they have to work as a team and for the team.

"It definitely won't be easy for me but I believe we've picked the right players. We have good characters and because of that we have a strong team."

With the resources at his disposal, the 41-year-old also hinted that he could mix things up a bit this season to prevent Tampines from being too predictable.

"I think with the players we have we will definitely be able to play different systems," Bacina added. "It all depends on the competition and the opponents' system.

"We will try to play with four at the back but up front, it's quite difficult to say at the moment.

"Tampines have experience playing with three at the back - we will sometimes be forced to play a style depending on the players' ability. Sometimes, we can play that system.

"As the champion team with a good squad with experience, I am in a position to choose different systems."

Tampines will get their campaign underway next month when they take on SAFFC in the Charity Shield - the traditional curtain raiser to the new S.League season.