Pennant raring to go in S.League debut tonight

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 is itching to make his debut for Tampines Rovers tonight, and prove to fans that he is worth every bit of the hype.

With his wife, British model Alice Goodwin, and eight-year-old daughter Esme in town to witness his first match for the five-time S.League champions, Pennant said he hopes the crowd would come and be right behind him and his team-mates, as the Stags look to get their season off to a positive start against Geylang International at the Jurong West Stadium tonight at 7.30pm.

“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 did not put a foot wrong during pre-season. He notched an assist each in Tampines’ friendly matches against Hougang United (2-0 win) and Johor Darul Ta’zim II (1-0 win), and scored in their 1-1 draw with Albirex Niigata, last season’s League Cup and Singapore Cup champions.

Even if Pennant is feeling the pressure, it is unlikely he will fluff his lines. History shows that he has a penchant for raising the game on big occasions.

Against Southampton on his English Premier League debut for Arsenal in 2003, the then-20-year-old scored a hat-trick to announce his arrival to English football.

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 the Reds’ eventual 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.”

Still, Pennant can expect stiff competition against a Geylang side fortified with experienced heads in defence. He can expect to be shackled by the likes of former international Shariff Samat, ex-LionsXII defender Faritz Hameed and Japanese centreback Yuki Ichikawa.

But Pennant’s spirits have been lifted as his wife and daughter will be in the stands cheering him on. They arrived in Singapore on Saturday morning, to join him 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!”