IKLS FC not worried about Tunas FC

An IKLS FC player (L) in action during a recent DST Brunei FA Cup 2012 match. IKLS FC will take on Tunas FC in the quarter-final of the Brunei FA Cup at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas tonight.Picture: BT file

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, November 25, 2012

IT WILL be business as usual for IKLS FC head coach Hj Ali Rahman Hj Sulaiman when they take on Tunas FC in the quarter-final of the Brunei FA Cup at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas tonight at 8.

"I have not heard much of Tunas FC. I know that they are a team from the Tutong District and they are doing pretty well in the tournament at the moment," said Hj Ali Rahman.

"We are not worried about them (Tunas FC) at all. It is not that we disrespect them but I always tell my players not too worry about the opponents too much.

"We need to only focus on ourselves in the game," the coach told The Brunei Times last night.

Hj Ali Rahman also said that he never bothered himself with trying to figure out who IKLS might draw throughout every stage of the tournament.

"We in IKLS never think about who we will be facing at any stage of the tournament. We will face any team.

"Even for this match, we were (initially) told that we will be playing against Kilanas FC in the quarter-final. It was only a few days ago that we were informed that we will be playing Tunas FC," he explained.

Asked about the preparations made by the club ahead of the game, the coach replied: "The preparations have been very good. We played in a few friendly games against the local clubs in the country and the results were very satisfying."

"We won all the friendly matches, including a 5-1 win over QAF FC, one of the best football clubs in the country. Other than that, we have been training since our last win against Jerudong FC last month," he said.

IKLS came back from behind to beat Jerudong FC 2-1 in the third-round of the tournament at the Balapan Track and Field in Berakas on October 29.

Muhd Fakhrul Tamimi Hj Sahri equalised for IKLS FC in the 64th minute before Norman Hj Abdul Rahman scored the winner nine minutes from time.

"The game against Jerudong FC was very important. If we manage to replicate the form during the game against Jerudong FC... I am sure that we will be able to win the game tomorrow," said the coach.

"All the players who featured in the game against Jerudong FC in the third-round of the tournament will start in the game. I hope that our striker Ak Halim Pg Hj Hassan, who is the former Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy player, will be able to perform and score goals for us tonight."

The Brunei Times