Syrian hope

Thursday, 14 June 2012 17:07

President of Syrian club Al Shorta Hatem Alghayeb believes his club have been placed in the most difficult quarter-final encounter when they were pitted against Chonburi of Thailand during the AFC Cup 2012 Knockout Stage draw at AFC House on Thursday. The leaders of Group E with 15 points from six matches had gone on to beat Home United of Singapore 3-1 in their Round of 16 match in May at the Amman International Stadium in Jordan to win a ticket to the last eight. However, the club’s President feels that he would rather see his club up against more familiar teams from the West Asian region. AFC Competitions Executive Director Windsor John (pic) as well as special guests, Saudi Arabian goalkeeping legend Mohammed Al Deaya and Chinese superstar Sun Jihai conducted the draws. “These are very good draws but unfortunately not for us as we have been put against an unfamiliar team, Chonburi from Thailand,” he told the-afc.com after the draw. “In fact, I think our draw is the toughest, tougher than all the other three quarter-final draws. “I’d rather that we faced any of the other West Asian clubs, Kuwait SC, Arbil of Iraq or Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq, whose style of play we know quite well. “Come what may, our coach will make sure the club will be prepared for the match. It is a very good experience for us and we feel privileged to have arrived at this stage of the competition.” “We’ll do our best and who knows we may just go to the final match and have a chance to host it." The Syrians will travel to Thailand to meet Chonburi at the Chonburi Stadium for the first leg of their quarter-final matches on September 18 and on September 25, they will entertain the Shark for the second-leg tie at the Amman International Stadium, Jordan.