Duc Chung’s sights set on Selangor

Duc Chung’s sights set on Selangor

PETALING JAYA – Binh Duong may have enjoyed an impressive run to the semi-finals of last season's AFC Cup but the Vietnamese side are looking no further than Tuesday's opening Group F clash with Selangor when they begin their 2010 campaign.

The current V-League leaders will take on Malaysian Super League (MSL) table toppers at the Shah Alam Stadium keen to get off to the best possible start.

However, Binh Duong head coach Mai Duc Chung (pictured) warned that even without foreign players bolstering their ranks, Selangor will still prove a handful for his men.

“Selangor have current Malaysian internationals and also several under-23 players, who won the SEA Games last year when they beat Vietnam in the final,” he said.

“Selangor have also won the Malaysia Cup 32 times, so we have to give them the respect they are due even though they will be playing without foreigners.

“For us, the target is to play well in every game that we are in. As professionals, we have a duty to play well in all competitions rather than targeting to win just one championship.”

Other than their three imports – Brazilian Elenildo De Jesus, Philani Kubheka from South Africa and Nigerian Egbo Osita - Binh Duong can call on naturalised striker Huynh Kesley Alves to lead the line.

The team will also be bolstered by the presence of Vietnam defender and skipper Huynh Quang Thanh as well as midfielder Nguyen Vu Phuong.

Meanwhile, Selangor head coach K. Devan believes a disciplined performance will see his side come out on top.

“I think that what will make the difference in the match will be the foreigners, so we will have to adapt the right strategy to shackle them,” he said.

“If we can keep to our tactical discipline, then I think that we can walk away with the right result.”

Binh Duong thrashed MSL side Kedah in the last 16 last year but Devan feels that result will have no bearing on the encounter.

“I don’t think that it is right to compare results. You are only as good as your last game, so we have to treat each match differently,” he said.

Skipper Amri Yahya was also quietly confident, adding: “It is important that we play as a team and if we can do that, we should be able to take this one. There are no injuries in the team at the moment, so that is at least a positive factor.”