Pennant wants to prove he’s worth the hype

SINGAPORE — Jermaine Pennant has been waiting for this moment for weeks. After becoming the most expensive S.League signing of all-time, the former Arsenal and Liverpool winger said he can’t wait to make his debut for Tampines Rovers on Monday night, and prove to fans that he is worth every bit of the hype.

With his wife in town to witness his first match for the five-time S.League champions, Pennant said he hopes the crowd will come and be right behind him and his teammates, as the Stags look to get their season off to a positive start against Geylang International at the Jurong West Stadium.

“My time in Singapore has been terrific so far, and it’s great to see the buzz all around,” said the 33-year-old Englishman. “Everyone has been incredibly supportive of me.

“I have been reading articles about me online and in the papers, and I know people expect big things of me. I want to step up and deliver when called upon, that’s for sure.”

Pennant has hardly put a foot wrong during pre-season. He notched an assist each in friendly matches against Hougang United (2-0 win) and Johor Darul Ta’zim II II (1-0 win), and scored against Albirex Niigata in a 1-1 draw.

Even if Pennant is feeling the pressure, it is unlikely that he will fluff his lines. Afterall, he has a penchant for raising the game the bigger the stage.

Against Southampton on his English Premier League debut for Arsenal in 2003, Pennant scored a hat trick to announce his arrival to English football.

Then, four years later, against Italian giants AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final, Pennant put on a Man of the Match performance for Liverpool despite a defeat.

“I am relishing the challenge - even with all the attention and pressure on me,” he said. “Top players in the world are under pressure to perform all the time, so it’s not an issue with me. I have been dealing with pressure for most of my career, having played in a Champions League final and also against some top teams during my time in England.”

Pennat’s spirits have been lifted as his wife, British glamour model Alice Goodwin, and daughter, Esme, will be in the stands cheering him on. They arrived in Singapore on Saturday morning to be with the Tampines star after more than a month apart.

He said: “It will be brilliant to finally spend some quality time with my family after such a long while away from home. It makes it extra special that they will be there for my league debut and as a player it means a lot to have your loved ones support you.

“Hopefully I can score a goal or two and give my family something to cheer about!”