Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Simunic makes rusty DPMM FC work hard

DPMM FC head coach Vjeran Simunic (pic) is facing a race against time to get his players fit.

Brunei's only professional club are eyeing a return to the Singapore League (S-League) next season and are awaiting a reply to an application they sent the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) two weeks ago.

But with the squad out of shape after not playing a competitive game since their 2-2 draw against Tampines Rovers FC on Sept 29, 2009, it is easy to understand why the Croatian's training sessions hardly involve any time on the ball.

He also has other worries on his mind.

His players can only make it to the club's base at the Jerudong Mini Stadium once a day, and some of them can't even make it to training at all because of other commitments.

"We are getting better day to day but at the moment we only train in the evening since the players are still working, at that too only around 5.30pm," he said last week.

"Maybe we will get approval from their employers to release them to train twice a day, morning and evening, once we get an answer from Singapore.

"Our problem is that we don't have our full squad with us now. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces' Sports Council (MS ABDB) have not released our players and we are still waiting for guys from the Under-23 national team.

"But we have five months (until the S-League starts in February) and we are doing the best we can.

"We are doing a lot of off-the-ball training to improve fitness (and) the players are all very happy to work. They have been neglected for so long and the most important thing is for them to get fit.

"I'm working differently for every player. Like Abu (striker Abu Bakar Mahari) for instance, he hasn't been training for one year so he has different drills to go through. Once they are fit then they can show their skill with the ball. When will that be? Perhaps in November or December ... The plan is to get all the players up to the same standard by that time.

"I'm not against the gym. I'll do it maybe once a week, but a footballer's natural environment is the field and you can see the atmosphere at training is great," he said, acknowledging he does most of his strength training at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.

Among the new faces in the team are several Under-21 players, two of whom are striker Shahrazen Hj Md Said's younger brothers Adi and Mohd Amalul Ariffin Shah.

Former Brunei Youth Team (Under-19) midfielder Azwan Ali Rahman and striker Abdul Al-Wardy Abdul Hamid are also among the younger players in the team, as is Mohd Arif Hj Zulkifli, who used to feature for Indera Sports Club.

It is the host of older players that might come as a surprise though, with ex-national striker Abg Norsillmy Abg Hj Taha who is in his early 30s heading the list. Md Julremi Hj Zaini, Md Hendra Azam Md Idris and Ampuan Nurul Azami Ampuan Husin are also those who have been training with the club, the players formerly at Wijaya FC, QAF FC and Majra FC respectively.

The club are allowed four imports in the S-League and Simunic admitted it won't be easy to replace the Croatian trio of Rene Komar (defender), Ivan Jerkovic and Drazen Govic (midfielders) and Algerian striker Abdel Hamid Berguiga.

"Like I said before, they must have the same kind of personality, ability and skill as our previous imports if not better," said Simunic./

The Brunei Times

Saturday, September 17, 2011

2 New Import Signings!?

DPMM FC to sign Brazilian defender Tales Kanu and former Tranmere Rovers midfielder George O'Callaghan.

DPMM FC eye four imports

The 2009 Singapore League Cup champion DPMM FC are looking to battle in the Singapore League (S League) again next year if the club is permitted to play in the prestigious league by the organiser.

Currently busy regrouping the club's original players besides recruiting youth local players and import players, the main aim of the club is to compete and settle the 'unfinished' business in the S League once again.

DPMM FC's Club Manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin in an interview with the Bulletin yesterday said that the club has officially sent in an application to rejoin the league.

"I can confirm that we have sent in a request to play in the S League. For now, we can only wait for the official answer from them (organiser)," said Pg Waslimin.

Asked if the club is ready to compete in one of the top leagues in Asean again, the Club Manager replied that the team is on its way to build a strong team that can challenge any club in the league.

"We have a number of import players on trial with the club. We are looking for a maximum of four imports (the maximum quota as permitted in the S League). So far, players from France, Brazil, Cameroon, Nigeria among others have shown interest to play for our club," Pg Waslimin said.

According to him, the club will select the potential imports carefully before representing the club.
"Coach Vjeran Simunic is back with the club. With his broad coaching experience, I'm sure that he will choose the best among the best. Only players who show real commitments can win the heart of the coach and the team management," added Pg Waslimin.

Meanwhile, the club is also turning their attention in recruiting promising local young talents to play for them.
"These local young guns are talented. They have shown a brilliant style of performance in our local league (DST Group Brunei Premier League). Hopefully those selected will be working hard for the team," Pg Waslimin said.

Players such as Majra FC's striker Adi Said, MS ABDB winger Ak Mahmod Fakhrul Razi Pg Hamzah and Md Hendra Azam Md Idris of QAF FC are currently training with DPMM FC.

And just last week, DPMM FC has re-signed former coach Vjeran Simunic from Croatia on a one-year contract.

News courtesy of Borneo Bulletin.

DPMM apply to rejoin S-League.

They took local football by storm in 2009, becoming the first foreign team to win a trophy in Singapore when they bagged the League Cup.

Brunei's DPMM FC were in the running for the S-League title as well that year, but were prevented from achieving a historic double after FIFA banned the national association of the sultanate, which forced Singapore to kick the club out before they could complete their final five games of the season.

Now, after a year in the football wilderness, DPMM are looking to make a return in Singapore.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a souce of Brunei told  Today: "DPMM have already submitted their application to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and are awaiting a response from them."

The possible comeback of DPMM increases the possibility radical changes could be in store of the S-League, starting next season.

Currently the Great Eastern-Yeo S-League season features 12  teams playing three rounds.
One possible change could see 14 teams battling on a home and away basis.

When contatced yesterday,FAS deputy director of marketing and competitions, Ridzal Saat said: "There has been a lot of talk about the league expanding and also new teams joining the S-League. We will take into consideration every aspect on how we can improve the league as a whole.

"One such area os our S-League online survey ... as we seek to gather feedback from fans in preparation for the 2012 season. If there are changes, we will update the public swiftly."

FIFA banned Brunei from all football activities in 2009, deeming there was government interference the workings of the Brunei Football Association.

The body was reorganised and named the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam and the country was reinstated by FIFA on May 30 this year.

A possible return by DPMM has created a stir in local football circles.

The SAFFC were the main beneficiaries of DPMM's unceremonious exit in 2009 when they claimed the S-League title anc Warriors' coach Richard Bok said: "They were challenging for the title when they were forced to pull out, and they were a good side that made the league more exciting."

Gombak United chairman John Yap said: "They gave clubs a chance to experience a real away game with the hostile crowd in Brunei, and they were a credit to themselves and...gave  an added dimension to the league."

Besides DPMM, Sembawang United, ateam backed by an anonymous busineeman, have also applied to join the S-League next season.

With the Malaysian Under-23 joining in the fray as well,both Bak and Yap back the idea of a 14-team, two round format for the S-League.

"It would be a positive thing if we can play two rounds with 14 or even up to 16 teams. It would see an increase in fan interest,and clubs can schedule our training programmes better," said Bok.
Said Yap: "It is not an ideal situation to have 12 teams in a three-round format; a straightforward home and away system will add to the sophistication of the league.

"It could also be important,especially considering Singapore's return to the Malaysian League next year. This may give fans something interesting to watch, and may bring them back to local stadiums."

DPMM FC players can't wait to go out and play

It's hardly breaking news that DPMM FC players are raring for a return to the Singapore League (S-League).

Club manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin told The Brunei Times on Thursday that Brunei's most successful football club have applied to rejoin the S-League after submitting their application to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) earlier in the week, a move, which if successful, will reunite DPMM FC with the league they took by storm in 2009.

Despite clubs from Japan (Albirex Niigata) and South Korea (Super Reds) also playing in the S-League, it was Brunei's only professional football club that became the first foreign team to win a trophy in Singapore when they claimed the League Cup in their debut season in 2009.

They had a shot at making it a double in the league largely thanks to the guidance of bench boss Vjeran Simunic, who has made a comeback after being forced out when Fifa suspended Brunei and in extension, DPMM FC from international football for 20 months.

Hj Muhd Subhi Abdilah Hj Bakir, a key cog in Simunic's midfield, is itching to lace up in Singapore again. "Of course it's a great idea for us to play there again like before," he told The Brunei Times yesterday.

"We've been resting for a long time so I hope we can get back (into the S-League) and I think there's a big probability we will. We have been out of competition for nearly two years so we all can't wait to get started. Now that Fifa lifted the suspension (in May) it will be good for Brunei footballers to get back to playing international football and improve our standard.

"All of us support the decision to bring Simunic back. We would support any coach the club bring in but Simunic has helped us to achieve something. The players are all in-tune with his training, strategy and formation ... Though training might be hard, it's for the good of the club and players," added Hj Muhd Subhi.

Another key component in Simunic's squad is Mohd Wardun Yussof, the goalkeeper who was the team's hero during the 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) FC with back-to-back saves against midfielder Masahiro Fukasawa and defender Razaleigh Khalik.

He has also been in fine form in the domestic league, helping Majra FC claim the DST Group Brunei League Cup in June.

The shot-stopper also featured for DPMM FC when they were in the Malaysian Super League (MSL) in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons, but maintains that neither the DST Group Brunei League nor the MSL can compare to the S-League.

"I'm happy to hear the news and hope it works. It is a very good league which is well organised and has really professional players and they are also more open," said Wardun.

"I also support the decision to bring back Simunic since he led the club to a trophy. It's a better idea to bring in new players and new faces instead of a new coach," he noted.

The team's deadliest striker, Shahrazen Hj Md Said, felt that a move back to the S-League with Simunic marked the club's natural progression after the Fifa suspension was lifted.

"It's a good idea. It's easy for us to communicate with Simunic and he knows our style of play ... We're like family," he said.

"We've been enjoying returning to training with him and we have really started preparing hard for the league," said Shahrazen, who finished the 2006/07 MSL season as joint top-scorer with 21 goals and also led DPMM FC in scoring during the 2008/09 S-League season with nine.

Another player who has been enjoying working with Simunic again is midfielder Hardi Bujang.

"For me it's a good idea to bring him back because if we get another coach we need to learn his style all over again," he said.

"He has really been concentrating on fitness during training and we're running a lot," he added.

French side Etoile FC are the S-League's defending champions, with the competition starting on Feb 12 with a dozen teams playing in three rounds

Currently in its 16th season, Singapore's top-flight is scheduled to end on Nov 28 though hopefully DPMM FC won't have to wait until then to find out if they can play.

News courtesy of The Brunei Times.

17th September 2011

Monday, June 13, 2011

List of tryouts

Players coming for tryouts beginning June,2011

1/Lounes Bendahmane(Algeria)-27th June
2/Daoud Bouabdellah(Algeria)-27th June
3/Sam Ayew Yeboah(Ghana)-
4/Andre luis De Souza(Brazil)-15th June
5/Hamza Yacef(Algeria)-27th June
6/Ernandes(Brazil)
7/Helton Luis(Brazil)
8/Claudalado Paulino de Lima(Brazil) 
9/Fabio Flor de Azevedo(Brazil)

Courtesy of DPMM FC Website & Wikipedia

Monday, June 6, 2011

Brunei Football is BACK!!

After two long hard years of football oblivion, Brunei Football is back on track. Bruneian Fans especially the DPMM FC fans can now give out a sigh of relief after it was announced that NFABD is now a member of FIFA, so therefore the Suspension on Brunei is now lifted.

"We're Back"