Seongnam captain Ognenovski enjoys Australia call-up
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Sasa Ognenovski has been boosted by his first call-up for Australia just days before he leads Seongnam Ilhwa into battle against Zobahan in Saturday's AFC Champions League final at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
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Sasa Ognenovski |
The 1.95-metre centre-back has enjoyed a stellar season and last week was named as one of 15 candidates for AFC Player of the Year.
Ognenovski, 31, has been included in the Australia squad for next Wednesday's friendly against Egypt in Cairo with the likes of Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer. He said the call from Socceroos coach Holger Osieck lifted his confidence ahead of his second AFC Champions League final in three years.
"I feel brilliant. I'm really happy and humbled to be called up by my country, as I'd almost given up hope," said Ognenovski, who will travel to Tokyo with Seongnam on Thursday and fly to Cairo on Sunday.
"The achievements with my teammates at Seongnam may have helped put pressure on the selectors. After I reached the AFC Champions League final and was nominated for AFC Player of the Year, I thought I might get the opportunity."
Ognenovski was appointed Seongnam captain this year and the hard-tackling stopper is determined to lift the AFC Champions League trophy before trying to secure a place in next year's competition through the K-League playoffs.
"Being the captain and having experienced a final before, I'll do what I can to motivate the team. We have a couple of younger players who are in their first season in the K-League, so I want to get their head around it, try to get them to play their normal game and not be overawed," Ognenovski said.
"It would be good to lift the trophy, especially as we lost on penalties in the FA Cup final last year and also lost in the final of the K-League playoffs. We're the most successful club in Korea and we deserve to be champions of Asia. Everyone's fit and ready to go and we're confident we'll get the result in Tokyo."
Seongnam target man Dzenan Radoncic and holding midfielder Cheon Kwang-jin are both suspended for the final, but Ognenovski believes Shin Tae-yong's men have enough firepower to overcome Zobahan, who currently lead the Iran Pro League.
"I think our team are more dynamic and a bit faster in the transition from defence to attack," he said. "Zobahan like to defend deep and hit goals on the counterattack, whereas we like to knock it around a bit more and get crosses in. Hopefully the team who play the best football will win."
Ognenovski was quick to dismiss talk of a dip in form after Seongnam picked up just two points in their last three K-League matches.
Ilhwa played out a dramatic 2-2 draw at Gyeongnam on Sunday to finish fifth in the K-League table ahead of the six-team playoffs. The result followed a 2-2 draw with Gwangju Sangmu and last Wednesday's 2-1 loss to table-toppers FC Seoul.
"We're playing really well. Against Gyeongnam, we were a goal down after a couple of minutes and had a player sent off after about 20, yet still came back to lead until six minutes of extra-time was played and they scored a penalty. We dominated, even with 10 men," he said.
"The performance was really good, like it was against Seoul. We're playing good football and we just need a bit of luck and some fair decisions. After the last game, the coach told us to forget about the K-League so we're fully focused on the AFC Champions League final. There's no issue with confidence."
Ognenovski said Radoncic and Cheon will travel with the squad to Tokyo, as will former national team striker Choi Sung-kuk, who recently returned from Gwangju Sangmu.
"The whole squad is travelling together including Radoncic and Cheon Kwang-jin. All the senior guys will be coming, which is great for team morale. Choi Sung-kuk is back from military service and although he's not registered for the Champions League, he's coming as well," Ognenovski said.
"It's a one-hour 20-minute flight so there's no need to go early. I think you can travel to places too early, as you can get bored, stuck in your hotel with nothing to do. It's good to stay at home and keep to your routine until you need to leave."
Zobahan, who arrived in Tokyo on Sunday, have knocked out some of Asia's biggest clubs on the way to the final including holders Pohang Steelers, Uzbek champions Bunyodkor, two-time winners Al Ittihad and fellow Saudi giants Al Hilal in the semi-final.
Mansour Ebrahimzadeh's men are aiming to go one better than fellow Esfahan club Sepahan, who lost to Japanese giants Urawa Reds over two legs in the 2007 final.
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