On paper, the Group F Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League clash between Lion City Sailors and Hong Kong’s Kitchee is a dead rubber.
Both sides are out of running for the knockout stages.
But the return of Kim Shin-wook to his old stomping ground, and the Sailors’ quest to rewrite their own AFC Champions League history should make the match somewhat interesting for the neutral and the Sailors fans.
In third spot with six points after wins over Jeonbuk and their Hong Kong opponents, Aleksandar Rankovic and his newly crowned Singapore Cup champions can take their points tally to nine with a win.
But how do you motivate a team which is playing its last match of the season, and especially in a dead rubber with nothing to gain but pride.
“We want to finish strong, especially after the Singapore Cup final, and we want maximum points from tomorrow’s match,” said Jankovic.
For him, it’s also a matter of leaving a legacy.
“With the format change in the ACL (the Sailors will be in the ACL2 next season), this will be our last chance in this competition and we want to leave our own legacy,” he said.
Kitchee have their own ideas going into the match at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Second in the Hong Kong domestic league, the team is currently getting into the groove, quite the opposite of the Sailors who are winding down.
And then, there is that Kim Shin-wook factor.
“I brought him here because we need him and he has experience playing in this country and on this pitch. I know he scored 21 league goals here (in 2022), so I’m sure he can score tomorrow,” said coach Kim Dong-jin.
Kim found the back of the net on 24 occasions in 35 appearances in a Lion City Sailors shirt in 2022, including in the Community Shield through an acrobatic volley.
Kim’s prowess is not lost on Rankovic.
“We have to be aware of what he can do, he’s strong and big, he has a lot of experience and is a quality player,” said Rankovic.
“Many of our players have played with him and they are aware of that.
“Our motivation tomorrow is still to make sure we set the record number of ACL points, and represent Singapore football well.”
MAIN PHOTO: KITCHEE