Tezuka aims high

Takahiro Tezuka wants Geylang International to keep their unbeaten run going to ignite the team’s hopes of qualifying for the continental competition next year.

The rejuvenated Eagles have notched 11 out of possible 15 points in their last five outings, the first time they were unbeaten in as many matches since September 2019.

And the 24-year-old Japanese midfield ace believes it’s only right for the team to raise the bar when they take on Hougang United on Friday.

With 17 points in the bag thus far, the sixth-placed Geylang are just nine points off the third spot in the Singapore Premier League standings currently occupied by Tanjong Pagar, which offers a provisional berth to the AFC Cup.

Tezuka reckons that a win at Hougang Stadium will certainly be vital to their cause.

“It’s very closely contested there at the moment behind the top two teams (Lion City Sailors and Albirex Niigata),” said the former Albirex Niigata man.

“If you look at the table right now, I don’t think we trail the top three position too far behind.

“Hopefully we can continue our good run and pile the pressure on the teams above us.

“There have been a lot of highs of late and who knows where we can finish? There are still 12 matches to go.

“After putting a difficult start behind us, I do feel a lot of pressure has been taken off from all of us and we’re starting to enjoy things on the pitch,” added Tezuka, who’s one of the three players to have played maximum 1,440 minutes of action besides Sime Zuzul and Rio Sakuma.

Noor Ali will be hoping to lead his side to turn the table on the Cheetahs in more than 20 months having last beaten them 2-0 at home in November 2020.

Hougang won four out of the last five matches, but Geylang can take heart that the last encounter in May ended in a 0-0 draw.