Tigers seek further improvement

After a substantial improvement in 2010 on their past seasons’ overall results, Toa Payoh-based Balestier Khalsa are set to go even further in the new season, according to new senior coach Salim Moin.

The 49-year-old, speaking at the club’s pre-season press conference, received solid backing from key centreback Paul Cunningham at the event.

While Balestier’s Kiwi skipper was bold enough to forecast that the team could make it into the top five in 2011, the coach was a little less effusive in merely predicting a continuing improvement in the club’s status, without being too specific.

Still, they were united in their optimism, the key to which is held mostly in the changes to the playing roster and some tinkering with the coaching setup.

Salim takes over the first-team duties from Nasaruddin Jalil, who returns to the Prime League job he had managed so successfully for some years before taking over the senior side in more recent times.

The Tigers have brought in 23-year-old Korean centreback Lim Young Woo, who played in his university team before joining K-League outfit Suwon Samsung Bluewings a year ago as well as another Korean, Kim Young Kwang, who has also been signed to play up front.