Singapore, November 20: Tampines Rovers FC midfielder Jacob Mahler is embracing his return to Singapore and settling quickly into life in the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ as the Stags look to build momentum after a mixed start to their campaign in Southeast Asia’s premier regional club competition.
Mahler joined Tampines in the summer following a stint with Thai League 1 side Muangthong United, and the Shopee Cup™ marks his first involvement in the tournament. The 24-year-old says the competition has provided valuable opportunities for the Singapore Premier League outfit to test themselves against strong opposition from across ASEAN.
“It is a very prestigious tournament,” says Mahler. “You get all of ASEAN’s best teams competing and it has been a good experience so far.”
Tampines opened their Group Stage campaign with a win over DH Cebu FC before falling 2-0 to Selangor FC at MBPJ Stadium. While the away defeat was disappointing, Mahler believes the team is approaching the challenge with determination and focus.
“The loss to Selangor was a little disappointing,” he says. “It was an away game and a tough match. But two games in, one win and one loss is not the worst start for us.
“We have tough games coming up with Buriram United and others, so we are looking forward to those tests. Everything is still open for us and we go into every game with the mindset of trying to win and doing our best.”
His move back to Singapore has made the transition into the squad smooth, aided by familiarity with many of his new teammates.
“Being Singaporean, it feels like coming back home,” he says. “I know the majority of the players because Singapore is small, so it was easy to fit in and get along with everyone. I am living with my family again, which is comforting after being overseas alone.”
Tampines added several other signings ahead of this season, and Mahler believes the team is steadily building cohesion and confidence.
“We are trying to gel well with each other,” he says. “We are slowly clicking and you can see it in recent games. We had good results in the AFC Champions League Two as well. There are still things to work on, but we are improving.”
The Shopee Cup™ introduces different demands for Tampines, particularly with regional travel to away fixtures in the Philippines and Malaysia. While distances within ASEAN are short compared to other competitions, the adjustments in preparation, recovery and match rhythm have provided a good learning curve.
“In domestic competitions you do not travel as much,” Mahler explains. “Now we are going to different countries. Everything is nearby, but it is still an adjustment. It has been a fun experience for us.”
Tampines will face significant challenges in their upcoming Shopee Cup™ fixtures, including a meeting with defending champions Buriram United. With a refreshed squad and clear ambitions for the season, Tampines will be aiming to build consistency as they navigate the competitive field ahead in the Shopee Cup™, with every fixture offering an opportunity to strengthen their position.
“We want to keep improving and hopefully going into the next few Shopee Cup™ games we will get the results,” says Mahler.
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