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SCMP Reporter

INSTANT-DICT are ready to give Sri Lankan side Renown a cool reception at Mongkok Stadium tonight - and blow them out of the Asian Cup Winners' Cup.

  Instant hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg of the second round clash in Colombo and are banking on the territory's cool climate to unsettle their opponents.

  Renown manager Rex Fernando said yesterday his side did not expect to play at 8 pm - especially in such 'cold' weather.

  'We were informed by Instant-Dict a month ago that the game would kick off at 6 pm, but now they say it's 8 pm,' said Fernando. 'It's too cold for us as we come from a tropical country.'   The Hong Kong Football Association arranged a special night training session for Renown on Saturday.

  But some of the Sri Lankans felt the effects of the cold during the session which could affect their performance tonight.

  Fernando also complained about the standard of refereeing - from the neutral country of the Maldives - in the first leg.

  'They were blind to many fouls committed by the Instant players and had no experience in refereeing an international tournament,' said Fernando. 'If the AFC still use Maldivians this time, I would prefer to have Hong Kong referees.'   With seven national players on their books, Renown are top of the 20-team non-professional First Division League in Sri Lanka and won the Bristol FA Cup two weeks ago.

  Renown's bid for glory has been aided by the Sri Lankan Football Federation who have loaned them national coach Marcos Ferea.

  Brazilian Ferea said tonight's game would not be easy. 'We didn't play football at all in the first leg. We made so many unnecessary mistakes but we will not give Instant a chance this time.'   Instant will leave goalkeeper Mick Leonard, midfielder Sean Edwards and Scottish striker Eddie Gallagher on the sidelines due to AFC regulations on Asian Cup tournaments.

  Team manager Ben Choi is not expecting a hatful of goals tonight. 'Renown's defenders are very fast though their forwards are relatively weak. It will be easier for us to defend than to score.'   The winners will face J.Leaguers AS Flugels in next month's third round.

TEAMS Instant-Dict (possible): Chan Sau-yin: Cheung Chi-tak, Roddy Manley, Leung Shing-kit, Nip Chak-hang; Chan Chi-kwong, Yeung Kin-keung, Steve Berry, Lam Hing-lun; Graham Harvey, Ng Kam-hung.

  Renown (from) G. Premalal, M. Nawashad, J. Peeris, A. Anandakumar, Arumugam Loganathan, O. Ajith Kaldera, Mohan Saverimuttu, W. Preyantha, K. Ramar, D. Stienwall, D. Ranaweera, L. Athukorella, Rienzie Walles, A. Devandran, C. Steinwall, Anton Silva, R. Nishantha, Trevor Walles.



Cold comfort as Instant go for cup glory