Noor to continue adventure with the Eagles

Head Coach Noor Ali has pledged to take the Eagles to greater heights after guiding them to a creditable fourth-place finish in the AIA Singapore Premier League this season.

The 47-year-old has put pen-to-paper after signing a two-year contract extension as he admits he still has unfinished business with the club — to help them end its trophy drought since 2009.

Noor stressed that a team of Geylang International’s stature should start aiming for a trophy, and being a legend at the club himself, has vowed to help the club make a strong push towards the mission.

The Eagles, two-time Singapore Premier League winners in 1996 and 2001, have yet to taste success since they last hoisted the Singapore Cup in 2009.

Noor himself was part of the 2001 and 2009 victorious sides and he is relishing the prospect of becoming the first person to win a title as both player and coach at the club.

Since re-joining Geylang for a second stint in December 2018, Noor has also led the club to a third-placing in the Singapore Cup in 2019.

“As much as I want to achieve what I want as a coach, I know the limitations I’ve within the club and the team. But I would go down fighting.

“At the end of the day, I think it’s about time for Geylang to move up and win something next season,” vowed Noor.

Despite fancying a shot at coaching abroad, Noor said  he needed no second thought when he was offered a chance to remain at Geylang International.

“(I’m) definitely happy to stay at the club. Let’s put it this way, there are only six local clubs in Singapore. It’s either I go overseas or I stay here, ” he said.

“I think I’m not in a hurry to go overseas yet. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone.

“At the end of the day, I think it’s about going out there to win something with Geylang

“The day I win something with Geylang, then I’ll decide my future.”

Noor is ready to rebuild his squad with Joshua Pereira and Japanese duo Rio Sakuma and Takahiro Tezuka being among the three key players remaining to help the team with their relentless pursuit for glory.

Noor intends to fill up his roster with players who keep a level head all the time and is a good team player.

He warned that there will be no place for a prima donna, regardless of how good the player is.

“If you can buy in, you can follow, then it’s good. If not then, you know, sayonara,” he said.

“One player doesn’t make the team. You need that 20 players to work together and achieve something at the end of the season.”

Ends.