While shocked at Aide’s retirement, Indra says it’s time to focus on
Tajikistan

Cubby Leong
cubby@mediacorp.com.sg

JOHN Wilkinson limped away after the first tackle, but when Gombak
defender Precious Emuejeraye steamed into the SAFFC midfielder the second
time, both players squared off with each other at a Lions’ training match
yesterday at the National Stadium.

While some Singapore fans would be alarmed to hear of the confrontation,
so near the second leg of their Asian Zone World Cup second round
qualifier with Tajikistan, new Lions’ captain Indra Sahdan (picture) was
unconcerned.

“I don’t foresee any problems. They are all good boys in the team,” the
Home United striker said. “They are not hard to manage and are easy to
talk to.

“This team is focused on playing as a unit and it’s not just about the
captain or anyone else in particular. That’s a good sign.”

Indeed, minutes later, both Precious and Wilkinson were already speaking
to each other on the touchline and looked a little sheepish.

After the shock retirement of veteran defender and long-time Singapore
captain Aide Iskandar last Friday, national coach Radojko Avramovic has
named 28-year-old Indra as team skipper.

Which means besides scoring goals, Indra will now have to deal with such
issues as team unity and player bonding.

While some have blamed a rift between Aide and Avramovic for the
defender’s retirement, other members of the public have blasted the
Geylang player for the timing of the submission of his letter – hours
before the crucial home clash with Tajikistan.

The new captain just wants to move on.

“It wasn’t just me, we were all surprised and disappointed by Aide’s
decision to leave,” said Indra. “But we have to move on. There’s a very
important game coming up in Tajikistan and the team must come together and
concentrate on that.”

The Lions leave for Tajikistan tonight and they will take a 2-0 advantage
into the second leg, which will be played at the Central Stadium, in the
capital Dushanbe.

Besides using common sense and instinct, Indra will draw on what he learnt
from watching how Aide performed as captain between 2003 and 2007, to lead
the team.

“I liked how Aide led the team,” said Indra. “He was a very nice man to
begin with. If anyone had any problem, they could speak to him and he
would always be very supportive.

“He never faulted anyone, in any situation. In fact, he was always very
encouraging, especially when things were not going well.”

Indra has always risen to the occasion, coming up with goals against the
likes of Denmark, Uruguay, Japan, Kuwait and Premiership champions
Manchester United.

Could the armband restrict him in any way?

“Of course this is a new experience for me, but I don’t see it as extra
pressure or me having extra responsibilities,” he said. “When I was a boy
watching from the stands, all I wanted was to play for the national team.
Being captain never crossed my mind.

“Now that I am, I will still approach the game the way I have always
done.”