Former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant is "getting better and better" and ready to inspire Singapore giants Tampines Rovers in the important matches ahead.

That's the assurance of General Manager Desmund Khusnin ahead of Tampines' return to competitive action after a break of almost three weeks.

The Stags will play S.League champions Brunei DPMM on Saturday night and have been drawn to face Bengaluru FC, of India, in the quarterfinals of the 2016 AFC Cup.

Pennant played an important role in helping Tampines prevail in clutch matches against Selangor and Mohun Bagan in the Asian competition last month and can step up once again, says Khusnin.

"I think [Pennant] is getting better and better," Khusnin told ESPN FC.

"I think he will perform. He's been sharp in training and I think he'll help carry us through."

In their AFC Cup quarterfinal, Tampines will need to prevail against Indian opposition for the second consecutive match, starting with the first leg away on Sep. 14. The Stags beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 after extra time in the Round of 16.

"At this stage any team is tough, but the good thing is that for the second leg we are at home which will give us a bit of an edge," Khusnin said.

"We've seen some tapes of [Bengaluru] and I think that the coach has some plans of how to handle them."

That head coach is now former Tampines assistant Akbar Nawas, who's taken over after V. Sundarmoorthy's exit to become Singapore national team boss.

"The assistant coach has been with the team for one and half years already so I think it's just a transition ... no major issue on that."

If Tampines prevail against Bengaluru, they are likely to face AFC Cup holders Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) in the semifinals. JDT face South China, of Hong Kong, in the last eight for the second consecutive year.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by Jason Dasey

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