Kraljevic unperturbed for late start of the Tigers friendly schedule

Marko Kraljevic taking charge at Toa Payoh

New Balestier Khalsa coach Marko Kraljevic appeared to be unperturbed for being late with their pre-season friendly schedule, as compared to other clubs, in preparation for the upcoming S.League season

Speaking to this blogger after the delayed friendly match against Harimau Muda, the well-travelled Croatian said:"I'm not worried for just only played my first friendly match today,"

Rain in Singapore after almost a month

Paul Cunningham (right) - Tigers mainstay

Scheduled to kick off at 5pm at the Toa Payoh Stadium, the match was delayed due to the activation of the Lightning Warning System (LWS) before the go-ahead was given to proceed the game at approximately 7pm that saw Balestier defeated their Malaysian visitors 1-0 with a strike from new Croatian signing Goran Ljubojevic in the 25th minute.

"It's because of the late arrival of our foreign players and we need some time to settle them in but I believe we are ready for the new S. League season." added coach Kraljevic who is back to the club for a second spell as a coach following earlier stints with the Tigers as their COE Under-16 coach in 2007 before moving on taking charge the Prime League squad a year later.

Ljubojevic nets the winner

Thrilling in the box in the second half

When asked where would he want to see the Tigers finish in this year's campaign, the 48-year-old replied no specific target had been set for the club who won last season's League Cup - their first major trophy since the league inception back in 1996.

Said Coach Kraljevic:"I have not set any target for my team this season, but definitely we have to be better than last year so as to raise the bar."

ITIMI NOT ON TRIAL WITH THE TIGERS
Meanwhile, former Singapore international Itimi Dickson was spotted coming out of the Tigers' tunnel before the match and it was earlier reported that Nigerian-born winger was on trial with the club, a notion that was rejected by the club.

Itimi Dickson just training only (file picture)

"Itimi is not on trial with the club." clarified Coach Kraljevic on the status of the 30-year-old who last played in Singapore for Geylang United back in 2010.

Citing the example like David Beckham and Thierry Henry for training with Arsenal to maintain their match fitness in the past, the joining of Itimi in the club training is of a similar nature like the two luminaries.

TIGERS FILLED UP THE IMPORT QUOTA FOR S.LEAGUE
Besides Ljubojevic, the club had confirmed their S.League foreign quota by retaining skipper Paul Cunningham, the Korean duo of Park Kang Jin and Kim Min Ho with another new signing in Serbian Lotinac Emir to complete the list.

Balestier Khalsa will begin their season with a visit away to take on Courts Young Lions on the 23rd of February.

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