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 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

DPMM FC Go Top Of Table

By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - Unbeaten Brunei DPMM FC topped the S League for the first time when they edged Sengkang Punggol FC 1-0 in front of their supporters at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last night.

After the game, Brunei DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic was ecstatic and saluted the fans for the immense turnout to support the team. "The best players are the fans, they came to create an incredible atmosphere for the players. Fans who are not here (stadium) have missed a crucial game of Brunei DPMM FC," he said. On his team's performance, the Croatian coach said: "We did our best, all my players are heroes tonight. We expect a very tough game and Sengkang are here to dethrone us but we managed to overcome the early jitters to grab the win." The coach also has nothing but praises for Shahrazen for scoring the winner. "He did his job and I like the goal he scored today. Shahrazen is my best player, he took control of the ball and rose to the occasion." Both teams started off the match cautiously for the first 20 minutes but it was Brunei DPMM FC who almost scored on 23'1 minute when Shahrazen Said's header went just a whisker wide from a cross by Hj Subhi Abdillah. Brunei DPMM FC's goalkeeper War-dun Yussof was called into action on 27th minute when he managed to save a powerful shot outside the penalty box from Sengkang Punggol's Abdoulaye Diallo. Seven minutes from half-time, the visitors almost went ahead but Brunei DPMM FC's goalkeeper managed to make a diving save to preserve his record of a third consecutive clean sheet. After the breather, Brunei DPMM FC introduced Abdel Hamid Bergiga for the injured Rosmin Kamis and the import player nearly drew first blood when he lashed on a pass by Ivan Jerkovic and with the keeper to beat, Abdel Hamid sent the ball over the bar. Ten minutes after Shahrazen's dramatic goal in the 61st minute, Sengkang Punggol's hope of a comeback was dented when they were reduced to 10 men when referee Abdul Malik gave Jerry Bartholomeusz a second yellow card for unsporting conduct. In the dying minutes, Brunei DPMM FC's substitute, Nardi Bujang nearly put his name to the scoresheet when his long-range effort sailed just inches over the crossbar. Brunei DPMM FC's next game will be April 31 against Tampines Rovers FC at Stadium Jalan Besar in Singapore.

Stunning win for Brunei DPMM FC

It was Md Abu Bakar Mahari to the rescue again last night, scoring in the 84th minute of DPMM's match against Super Reds FC to give the Brunei side their first win of their debut Singapore League(S-League) season.

The 2-1 victory was a result of DPMM's excellent performance in the second half, never giving up the fight despite going behind as early as the 11th minute when midfielder Jeon Byung Euk netted from the penalty spot after DPMM midfielder Sairol Sahri was judged to have harshly tackled Yu Hyun Koo in the box.

Though the star striker Shahrazen Said was forced out of the game - with what looks to be a recurrent ankle injury - hardly a minute after the restart, the team's attack was at the capable feet of his replacement Md Abu Bakar, who scored the equaliser during the Brunei's team 1-1 draw with the Young Lions in their first match last week.

Shahrazen's injury, seemed to spur his teammates on and they embarked on waves after waves of attack - rewarded by the most unlikeliest of players.

Defender Yusof Salleh's free kick from 25 yards out curled past Kang Su Ho in between the Super Reds goalposts and found the top left corner in the 61st minute to draw level for the home side, and from then on, the fans would settle for nothing less than a win in the side's first home game of the season.

DPMM goalkeeper Wardun Yusof kept his team in the game two minutes later when he was forced to dive sharply to his right to save a shot own goal, but he was hardly troubled for the rest of the night.

After a menacing performancethus so far with dangerous runs and precise passes,Md Abu Bakar - nicknamed Eto'o by his teammates - repaid his coach's confidence in playing him by scoring 6 minutes before the final whistle.

Pushing the ball forward on the counter-attack, South Korean forward Oh Ddog Yi received a pass from the right and skillfully created space for a shot.

Though it was boxed out by goalkeeper,Kang,it was poor clearance and the oncoming Abu Bakar easily scored with a simple tap-in from a few yards out.

Doing well to put men behind the ball after that, DPMM rode out their first win of the season with their fans cheering them and hardly allowing the Super Reds the time and space to send in a cross.

The Koreans preferred method of attack was through the flanks, where they created space and sent in crosses, trying to make the most of their height advantage.

However, last season's runners-up were thwarted by the good aerial showing of defender Rene Komar and captain Pg Sallehuddin and hardly threatened from crosses or during set-poeces.

Pg Sallehuddin's performance was especially recommendable throwing himself at every tackle and one-on-one challengewith the vigour and determination that one would hardly expect from a 35-year old player.

Prior to the match head coach Vjeran Simunic had said that the team's attitude had changed and that was certainly true last night.

"We were hungry to play after that we could not compete in the Malaysian League - it was like we were in a cage," said Simunic yesterday.

"Give us a chance and we will play like this"I know we can do better.

"I am happy about the game, the team's performance and their attitude.

"It was a very offensive game, very openlike how we used to play last year ... Six players on the attack sometimes," added the Croatian.

"I have seen the Super Reds play before and they surprised me tonight because I did not think they were this good.

" I would like to thank the fans for supporting us and I want to tell them they must be proud of us, proud of the local players.We are playing Woodlands Wellington on Sunday and I want to see 10,000 fans here - if not I will go home because I don't like them playing in empty stadiums," added the Croatian with a wink.

The result pushes DPMM from ninth to fourth in the 12-team league with four points from two games.

The Beautiful Goal

I can't stop watching the goal...its one of the most beautiful goal that i've seen by a DPMM player.

Official Malaysian Super League Transfer

LIGA SUPER\SUPER LEAGUE -

DPMM

MASUK: Bobby Gonzales (Sabah), Mohd Reithaudin Emran (Perlis), Affendi Yati Tuah (NBT FC), Mohd Nazlee Pehin (AM Gunners FC), Mohd Helmi Zambrin (AH United), Azman Ilham (NBT FC), Muhd Abu Bakar Mahari (NBT FC), Chan Wing Hoong (Perak), Shukor Adan (Selangor), Mohd Reduan Petra, Abdul Aziz Tamit, Awangku Muhd Nurhikman Pengiran Rajid, Mohd Rozaimi Petra (tidak diketahui)

KELUAR: Suhaimie Mohd Yussof (MS ABDB), Sariful Rizal Zainal (Wijaya FC), Mardi Bujang (QAF FC), Pengiran Hamzah Pengiran Abdul Rahman, Abdul Wahab Mansor, Shariman Che Omar, Fadlin Galawat, Ahmad Hafiz Said, Rosmin Khamis (dilepaskan)

JOHOR FC

KELUAR: Daudsu Jamaluddin (Kelantan), Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan (Terengganu)

KEDAH

MASUK: Shahrul Nizam Mustapha (Perak), Farizal Rozali, Azrul Ahmad (Pulau Pinang), Afif Amiruddin (Polis)

KELUAR: Ahmad Shakir Mohd Ali (Harimau Muda), Hasmawi Hassan (Felda United), Zamzuri Mohd Isa (Perlis), Redwan Nawi, Hazwan Zainun (dilepaskan)

KL PLUS

MASUK: Fadzli Shaari, Safiq Rahim (Selangor), Razali Umar Kandasamy (Perak), Norhafiz Zamani Misbah (Pahang), Irwan Fadzli Idrus (UPB MyTeam), Amir Shahreen Mubin (Pulau Pinang), Suhardy Elby (PKNS)

KELUAR: Adrian Dario Trinidad (Perth Glory), Nazrul Erwan Makmor, Khairul Anuar Jamil, Rizal Ahmad, Hasmarul Fadzil Hassan, Afiq Kamaruddin (Felda United), Nur Aliff Zainal Abidin (T-Team)

KUALA MUDA NAZA

MASUK: Mat Saiful Mohamad, Zulhisyam Jamaluddin (Pulau Pinang), K. Rajan (Pahang), Mohd Nor Ismail (Perak), Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli, Suffian Abdul Rahman (Selangor), Syed Muhammad Syed Hassan (Kelantan)

KELUAR: Mohd Sairozi Daud, P. Sivanathan (Johor), Mazlizam Mohamad, Firdaus Mohd Faudzi (Perlis), Rosyadi Saheb (dilepaskan)

NEGERI SEMBILAN

KELUAR: Khairul Anuar Baharom (Selangor), Yazid Yassin (Perlis), Effendi Malek, Abdul Aziz Zainal, Mohd Hafiz Khazali (dilepaskan)

PAHANG

MASUK: Shahrizan Salleh, P. Suthazon, Badrul Hisani, Rosfaizul Azuar Ali, Wan Azwari Wan Noor (Shahzan Muda)

KELUAR: Cristiano Lopes Figueredo (Pelita Jaya), Tarik El Janaby (PKT Bontang), Rashid Mahmud (Felda United), K. Rajan (Kuala Muda Naza), Norhafiz Zamani Misbah (KL Plus), Subri Sulong, Rosdi Talib, Syamsuri Mustafa, Kamal Rodiarjat, Hairuddin Omar (T-Team), V. Saravanan (dilepaskan)

POLIS

MASUK: Silvester Sindih, Eddy Gapil (Sabah), Jeffrey Untam (Sarawak)

KELUAR: Noh Alam Shah (Tampines Rovers), Wan Zaman Wan Mustapha, Faizol Che Noh, Nor Farhan Mohammad (Kelantan), Agu Casmir (Gombak United), Norhisham Hassan (Felda United), Sanjos Sundawat, Fazli Baharuddin (Selangor), Gasili Pengalot (Sabah), Afif Amiruddin (Kedah), Mohd Fadly Kassim, Mazwandi Zekeria (Sarawak), Nizam Abu Bakar (Perlis), Yosri Dermaraju (Johor)

PULAU PINANG

KELUAR: Alex Daniel Cabrera (PSIS Semarang), Farizal Rozali, Azrul Ahmad (Kedah), Mat Saiful Mohammad, Zulhisyam Hassan (Kuala Muda Naza FC), Amir Shahreen Mubin (KL Plus), Chun Keng Hong (Perak)

PERAK

MASUK: Mohd Syazwan Roslan (Perlis), Chun Keng Hong (Pulau Pinang)

KELUAR: Razali Umar Kandasamy (KL Plus), Khalid Jamlus, Azlan Zainal (Kelantan), Danial Fadzly, Fakri Saarani (Perlis), Nasril Nourdin, Hamsani Ahmad, K. Nanthakumar (Selangor), Shahrul Nizam Mustapha (Kedah), Khairi Zainuddin (Kuala Lumpur), Chan Wing Hoong (DPMM), Hardi Jaafar (Selangor), Ahmad Shahrul Azhar (bersara)

PERLIS

MASUK: Nizaruddin Yusof, Nizam Abu Bakar, (Polis), Danial Fadzly, Fakri Saarani (Perak), Farizal Marlias (Shahzan Muda), Mohd Kamil Ghani (Melaka), Badrulzaman Abdul Halim (PKNS), Yazid Yassin (Negeri Sembilan), Zamzuri Mohd Isa (Kedah), Mazlizam Mohamad, Firdaus Mohd Faudzi (Kuala Muda Naza)

KELUAR: Mohd Syazwan Roslan (Perak), Reithaudin Emran (DPMM), Azlan Ismail (Terengganu), Zainal Rabin (Felda United), Rudie Ramli (Selangor), Zulkifli Yusoff, Khairul Anuar Ramli, Azizi Mat Rose, Rusfazly Rahman (dilepaskan)

SELANGOR

MASUK: Khairul Anuar Baharom (Negeri Sembilan), Nasril Nourdin, Hamsani Ahmad, K. Nanthakumar (Perak), Sanjos Sundawat, Fazli Baharuddin (Polis), Rudie Ramli (Perlis), Hardi Jaafar (Perak),

KELUAR: Elie Aiboy (PSMS Medan), Fadzli Shaari, Safiq Rahim (KL Plus), Abdul Ghani Rahman (Felda United), Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli, Suffian Abdul Rahman (Kuala Muda Naza), Indra Putra Mahayuddin (Kelantan), Shukor Adan (DPMM), Megat Amir Faisal, Wan Hoesne Wan Hussain, Nuraizat Aziz (dilepaskan)

TERENGGANU

MASUK: Shahrizam Mohamad (Sarawak), Azlan Ismail (Perlis), Mohd Hafizi Awang (Kelantan), Tengku Hazman (Johor FC), Wan Mohd Aliff Wan Jasni (PKNS), Syam Syahril Ghulam, Badrul Hisham Morris (Proton)

KELUAR: Che Hishamuddin Hassan (Kelantan), Durahim Jamaluddin, Zulfahmi Ariffin (dilepaskan)

UPB MYTEAM

MASUK: Stanley Bernard (Kuala Lumpur), Hariri Safii (Harimau Muda)

KELUAR: Mohd Haris Safwan (T-Team), Irwan Fadzli Idrus (KL Plus)