"We're gonna win the title this year," came the bold declaration from an Ultras Eagles (UE) member on their dedicated WhatsApp group.
The fact that this message was posted while Geylang International (in a previous fixture on January 18) were hanging on to their precarious two-goal lead over Brunei DPMM with 10 minutes remaining on the clock, spoke volumes of the sky-high confidence in the Eagles camp.
Long-suffering fans of the two-time league champions - who last saw their beloved team lift the title in 2001 - are sensing that the 2024/25 season could be the closest they have experienced in having a realistic shot at clinching their third championship.
Buoyed by a superb run of six wins in seven matches, the third-placed side are currently five points behind frontrunners Lion City Sailors (LCS), albeit having played two games more.
For Eagles faithful Nabil, Geylang have to be considered as serious title contenders so long as the freescoring machine, fronted by explosive striker Tomoyuki Doi, keep firing shots into the net. "We have the firepower to compete, especially with Doi's on-form performance in finding the net easily."
What provides Nabil the confidence is the Eagles' abundance of attacking talents in supporting Doi's goalscoring duties.
He elaborates, "His Japanese partner Ryoya Taniguchi has always tried to show his creativity in link-up. At the same time, our local talents like Naqiuddin will be eager to prove themselves, especially with the call-ups for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers. The addition of Saifullah Akbar on loan adds more competition in midfield, challenging Iqbal Hussain for a spot in the starting XI."
While title challengers LCS and Tampines Rovers have a deeper squad depth than Geylang's, there is one key factor that could allow the latter to conserve enough energy in the tank to pip their rivals to the finish line.
As UE deputy chief Nas Marjuki highlights, "We're the only team in the top three that is not involved in regional competitions. While results so far don't seem to affect LCS, mainly with them having much more players and quality at their disposal, I believe at the tail end of the season they would probably suffer from fatigue due to their constant travels and high game intensity in the Asian Champions League Two fixtures."
Indeed, the star-studded Sailors may have shown early signs of fatigue as they put in a labourious performance against Buriram United in an ASEAN Club Championship Group B fixture on Thursday, which ended in a goalless stalement despite having a numerical advantage for the entire second half.
Watching the match footage on TikTok is Nas who could not resist taking a jab at the cash-rich club. "The LCS players looked shagged. Hope they'll remain tired on Sunday."
Sensing a chink in the armour in the formidable foe, Nas rallies his heroes in green to rise to the occasion in the upcoming Battle of Jalan Besar Stadium. "In the spirit of our motto 'Geylang Boleh', we should enter the match with every intention of winning the game. We have the ability to stand toe to toe with LCS, and with Doi banging on form, I believe a win is surely achievable."
With the weekend clash a potentially defining moment in the three-horse title race for the SPL crown, fellow supporter Nabil feels that there is no margin of error in the competition from now on. "Be prepared to fight for every ball and every chance that counts. We played them twice before (referring to the two draws earlier in the season) and took our chances well to capitalise them. Stay focused and disciplined, and believe in ourselves. Geylang Boleh!"
In the same breath, Nabil warns of the Eagles' Achilles' heel that would easily undo the team's good work. "Our defensive errors remain a threat, and we cannot afford costly errors at the back."
Urging his players to learn from past mistakes, he shares: "Let's not forget the number of games we threw away a two to three goals lead. Our players should aim to secure a clean sheet going into each match."
One potential bright spot for Nabil is the return of injury-prone player Huzaifah Aziz, who started in the previous fixture against Brunei DPMM after a long injury layoff. "Let's see how Huzaifah's return can help us, particularly if Coach Noor wishes to use him as a left back."
Team news: Zikos Chua is the only confirmed absentee for the upcoming match as he continues to nurse an injury. Geylang welcome back Vincent Bezecourt who has completed serving his one-match suspension.
Player to watch: Vincent Bezecourt - The former New York Red Bulls star, who has earned a reputation of a big-game player, simply loves to terrorise the Sailors defence. Since joining the club in 2022, the French midfield maestro has recorded four goals against the three-time league winners, and will be keen to adding to his tally this Sunday.
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