LionsXII: Don't take anything away from us

After a stuttering start to their Malaysian Super League (MSL) campaign, V Sundramoorthy's LionsXII are beginning to find their groove.

Their football has been entertaining, the goals are now flowing and their consequent climb up the table has seen them just three points off the pace in fourth spot.

But recent revelations of suspicion that LionsXII matches have been fixed by Malaysian clubs have taken some gloss off the team's three-match unbeaten run.

The New Paper reported yesterday that at least one LionsXII game was "a confirmed fix".

Since their 1-0 loss to Terengganu at home on Jan 28, the LionsXII have gone on to draw with Selangor (1-1) before turning in a scintillating attacking performance to beat Malaysia Cup champions Negeri Sembilan 3-1 last Saturday.

The team returned from Perak yesterday beaming with another victory in the bag, with skipper Shahril Ishak scoring a brace in a hard-fought 2-1 win.

NOTHING SO FAR? GOOD.

"I don't think there was anything suspicious about the games that we have played. They were all tough games, even the ones we won were not easy," said Shahril, who has scored five goals so far.

"The Malaysian teams we've played have all been very aggressive on the pitch, and especially when we've played at away grounds, they've always come at us. But having said that, all teams have their off-days, even us.

"I don't think there's anything fishy."

Both the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and the Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau (CPIB) have made their zero-tolerance stance clear even before the MSL season kicked off in January.

"... all we want to do is live the dream of playing in front of packed stadiums in a competition that has much historical meaning for us," Isa Halim added.

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