Pre-season tour whets JDT’s appetite for ACL.

Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) hotshot winger Safawi Rasid (pic) believes his team’s second bite of the cherry in the AFC Champions League (ACL) will be more succulent going by their pre-season tour.

JDT made a commendable debut in the competition last year with a home win over Japanese giants Kashima Antlers. They then drew at home against Gyeongnam FC of South Korea but finished bottom of the fourteam Group E with four points after six matches.

This time, the six-time Super League champions are drawn in Group G and start their campaign against Japan’s Vissel Kobe at the Misaki Park.

Safawi, who made his ACL debut with a goal in the 1-2 loss to Shandong last year, said JDT’s comprehensive preparation will stand them in good stead for this year’s campaign.

JDT played five matches during their preparations. They lost 0-2 to Latvian club Riga (Jan 20), beat Dibba Al-Fujairah of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 1-0 (Jan 23), beat Turkmenistan 2-1 (Jan 26), beat Slovakian club MSK Zilina 2-1 (Jan 29) and wrapped up their tour with a 2-3 loss to Emirates Club (Jan 30).

The 22-year-old Dungun-born Safawi said that playing against star-studded Vissel would be a daunting task as they have former Barcelona skipper Andres Iniesta and ex-Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.

“Nevertheless, I feel this year’s preparation is more tactically focused and the preparations are better ... everyone is working hard to create something for the club in the ACL,” said Safawi.

“We know Vissel have players who have played in the English Premier League and the La Liga but we will just focus on our game ... we should not be overawed by our opponents.”

Vissel qualified for the ACL after winning the Emperor’s Cup last year and they underlined their credentials this year by winning the Japan Super Cup by edging Yokohama F. Marinos 3-2 in the shootout after the match ended 3-3 on Feb 8.