Do you want to play in BPL II?

THE Football Federation of Brunei Darussalam (FFBD) is encouraging teams interested to compete in next season's DST Group Brunei Premier League II (BPL II) to start applying.

Tournament namesakes DST Group FC are 10th in the 11-team BPL II, with Kota Ranger at the bottom of the table.

Both teams have yet to win a match and will compete in a play-off at the end of the season, with the losers kicked out of the league to make way for a new side.

"We want the interested teams to apply as early as possible," said FFBD secretariat Johari Hj Bungsu during a draw for the DST Group Brunei FA Cup on Thursday.

"Five teams have already applied. The teams' inclusion will be based on their quality so we need time to asses them.

"Apply for BPL II though, not BPL I. If you give us $100,000 for sponsorship we'll let you play in BPL I," he joked.

Four of the teams who might apply are Rimba Star FC, Sabli's FC, Peninjau FC and Viva Rangers.

The four non-league teams will battle it out for a place in the first round of the DST Group Brunei FA Cup on March 1, and not since the 2004/05 season have non-league teams been handed a chance to play in the competition.

Undefeated the whole season, Liang Lumut Recreation Club Football Team (LLRC FT) were crowned champions of BPL II when they beat Menglait FC 2-1 on Feb 8 to earn promotion to BPL I.

The two bottom teams in BPL I, Brunei Shell Football Team (BSFT) and NBT FC will also compete in a play-off, with the losers relegated to BPL II.

QAF FC won the DST Group Brunei Premier League I for the third straight season when they beat AH United 2-0 on Tuesday.

Brunei Times