Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT) left-back La'Vere Corbin-Ong told AFC ahead of the AFC Champions League that the Southern Tigers have plenty of belief in themselves.

Corbin-Ong: Just competing isn't enough

Johor Bharu: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) full-back La'Vere Corbin-Ong insists that the Malaysians are not in the AFC Champions League to merely make up the numbers, ahead of Wednesday's Matchday Five clash with holders Kashima Antlers.

Ahead of their maiden AFC Champions League campaign, JDT's players had spoken about the big test and challenge awaiting the team when they stepped up to the tournament's elite club level.

Now, four matches in, the side from Johor Bharu can be proud of their performance so far.

While results haven't gone their way - three defeats and a draw - Malaysia's champions only lost by a single goal margin against some of Asia's more seasoned sides.

"Coming into the competition for the first time many people from outside the team didn’t have much belief that we could compete with the best teams in Asia," said Corbin-ong, who previously played his football in Germany and the Netherlands before joining JDT last year.

"We as a team knew that we had quality. We knew that we could compete with the best, it was just a matter of showing it on the pitch."

Group E: Kashima Antlers vs Johor Darul Ta'zim

While they have competed well, 2-1 and 1-0 defeats to Shandong Luneng, a 1-1 draw with Gyeongnam FC and a 2-1 defeat away to Wednesday's visitors does see JDT at the bottom of Group E and needing a win to stay in contention for a Round of 16 place.

"For us, competing and decent performances is not enough," said Corbin-Ong.

"Our intentions are to give our fans and our club president their first AFC Champions League win at our home stadium against the tournament's reigning champions."

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A pre-match meeting session by both teams with the Match Commissioner, followed by a press conference, was held on the eve of the match between Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Kashima Antlers in the 2019 AFC Champions League.

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08:02 - 7 May 2019

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A maiden AFC Champions League win over the tournament's holders would indeed be a milestone to savour, although Corbin-Ong is under no illusions about the magnitude of the task at hand.

"We have respect for Kashima as they won last year’s competition and are contenders to go far in the tournament this year," he said.

"We haven’t focused our attention on any individual player but more so how we can limit their attacking play and implement our attacking style."

"We are a team that loves playing at home in front of our fan base.

"The climate also gives us an advantage as many teams are not accustomed to playing in these conditions.

"Football is about results and we are keen to earn our first three points in the tournament."