Chance to become a great team

Male', MALDIVES - New Radiant Sports club face their toughest challenge in AFC Cup so far as they clash with defending champions Kuwait SC in the first leg of the quarter finals tomorrow.

The Blues boast the best attack in the AFC cup group stage with 20 goals in six games. But the attacking potential will be fully tested when they face a strong Kuwait SC side which has won the tournament on 2 occasions.

New Radiant's coach Bulgaria's Velizar Popov is fully aware of the strength of Kuwait SC, but he stressed New Radiant has no pressure before the first leg at home tomorrow.

"We are already a very good team. But if we beat Kuwait we will become a great team," Popov said in the pre match press conference held today. "This is a big challenge for us. But we have no pressure. Kuwait are the favorites. If we win it will be the biggest surprise in the AFC Cup."

Kuwait SC attack is led by Brazilian striker Rogerio, who was AFC's foreign player of the year last year and Tunisian International Issam Jemma. Jemma, who previously played for Lens and Auxxere in France is the all time leading top scorer for Tunisia.

Popov said even though Kuwait is a very strong side, New Radiant will not take a defensive approach.

"We can play defensive or do something in midfield and loose by few goals. But for me loosing 2-0 or 5-0 it makes no difference. For me the best way to defend is to attack. We will not change our style," Popov said.

Popov said the most players who played in the national side in the SAFF Championship is not in a good physical condition. However he said that all the players are fully concentrated for tomorrow's game and they are fully committed to get a good result.

Popov urged as many supporters as possible to support New Radiant in tomorrows match highlighting that supporters can play in important role for a good result.

New Radiant's captain Imran Mohamed said even thought most players who played in SAFF Championship faced physical problems, all the players will be fit for tomorrow.

"As the coach said all the players were not in the best physical condition when we joined New Radiant practice. But all will be fit and concentrated for tomorrow," Imran said.