Home Away From Home Syria Hope To Emulate Home Spirit When Playing In Malaysia

MELAKA (Malaysia), June 13 (Bernama) -- The Syrian national football team is hoping to emulate the same spirit when playing back home as they host China in a 2018 World Cup Asian Qualifier at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Krubong, here Tuesday. Syria head coach Ayman Al-Hakeem (right) said playing inside Syria in front of the home crowd would have big advantages especially in raising the spirit and hope of the team. "Despite what is happening in our country, Thank God we got to play this game in a peaceful, lovely country like Malaysia and we hope to display the same spirit here. I hope Malaysia can give us that same spirit when we play back home and we will play our best tomorrow (Tuesday), God willing," he told reporters through a translator at the Hang Jebat Stadium, here Monday night. Syria is currently facing an armed conflict fought primarily between the government of President Bashar al-Assad, along with its allies, and various forces opposing the government. Al-Hakeem said the preparation for the game Tuesday was going well and the team would rely on sheer fighting spirit to get the best result Tuesday. He said Syria are not aware of the exact strategy China would be using in the game Tuesday but the team always remember China are not an easy opponent. "We faced China before and from our experience we know they are a very difficult team to deal with. Insya-Allah we will try our best tomorrow (Tuesday)," he said. Meanwhile, in a separate press conference China head coach Marcello Lippi said the training session at Johor Bahru, Johor had helped his team adapt to the climate and surroundings of this country. "We are adapting really well and all preparations are according to plan. The only thing to do is believe in ourselves and play the best we can tomorrow (Tuesday)," he said. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA