Singapore Cup : DPMM 4-0 Lao Police Club

Singapore Cup : DPMM 4-0 Lao Police Club

4 min 1-0 Said
40 min 2-0 Said
82 min 3-0 Moreira
90 min 4-0 Moreira

DPMM Fc advance to quarterfinals in Singapore Cup

AFC U-14 : Brunei 0-11 Vietnam

Nay Pyi Taw: Vietnam thumped Brunei Darussalam 11-0 in their second Group E qualifying match of the AFC U-14 Championship 2014 3-1 at the Wunna Theik Stadium in Myanmar on Wednesday.
The Vietnamese had a poor start as they lost 2-1 to Timor Leste in their opening game in the group on Tuesday but the Brunei match definitely looked to be a mood changer as early as half time upon which they led the Bruneians 6-0.

Tran Minh Chien’s side boasted two hat-trick scorers in midfielder Nguyen Hong Son and striker Tran Vi Khang. Nguyen Van Thanh was a double scorer with Le Van Truong, Ho Van Thuoc and Huynh Trung Hieu chipping a goal each.

Yussof Abdul Rashid’s Brunei side will be up against Timor Leste on Friday while Vietnam face Myanmar.

afc.com

AFC U-14 - Brunei 0-4 Philippines

Nay Pyi Taw: The Philippines gained an emphatic 4-0 win over Brunei Darussalam in their AFC U-14 Championship 2014 Group E qualifying opener at the Wunna Theik Stadium in Myanmar on Tuesday.
The 60-minute match went into half time heavily lopsided with the Filipino boys leading at 3-0 before securing the winning goal in stoppage time.

Eventual player of the match and striker Kobe Joseph Quizon Stuart Del Rosario virtually scored all the three goals in the first half bulging the Bruneians’ net on 12, 18 and 30 minutes.

The second half proceed as if it was to conclude goalless until midfielder Fidel Victor Palogan Tacardon gave the Filipinos last-minute joy as he found Brunei’s net two minutes into stoppage time.

Yussof bin Abdul Rashid’s Brunei side will be playing Vietnam on Wednesday while the Eliezer Obias Fabroada-led Philippines are up against hosts Myanmar.

afc.com

U-15 team face stiff challenge

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Continued on Page A35

Thursday, May 30, 2013

THERE is still plenty of work to be done for the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) Under-15 team.

They had their first training session together last night and played out to a 2-2 draw against the Under-18 national side in a friendly at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

The Under-15 squad could have ended on the winning end but saw their counterparts score in the last minute in the friendly.

Head coach, Liew Chuan Fue, was satisfied with the showing of his charges but knows there is still a lot of work to do in preparations for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)-Frenz Under-15 ASEAN Champions Trophy.

"We will need to work on our midfield and obviously there is a lack of gelling. We will need to play more games first," said Liew in an interview with The Brunei Times last night.

"The fitness level can be improved as well but overall I thought we did alright for our first game," he added.

"We focused more on defending and the players did well. Playing out to a 2-2 draw was a good result especially since we scored against a team that have been training together longer than us," continued the 1999 Malaysia Cup winning captain.

The NFABD Under-15 team will have only two days to prepare for their opener against Frenz Indonesia in Group B at home on Saturday.

"I believe we will have to do a lot of defending against them. We will work on our set pieces and be prepared," said Liew.

The team management also went on to thank Brunei Darussalam Sports School Council (MSSSBD), Brunei Sports School, Projek Ikan Pusu (PIP), Muara Vella and Al-Idrus for allowing their players to join the squad.

Meanwhile, the players on the team are grateful to be selected to represent the Sultanate in the inaugural competition.

Narsul Wafiy Hj Hassan, who laces up for PIP, is thankful to be given such a chance.

"I feel very happy to be picked for the team. This is a good opportunity for me and I'm looking to produce some goals during the tournament," said the 14-year-old attacking midfielder.

Muhd Syahmi Rashid of MSSSBD has had more experience under his belt after representing Brunei for the AFC Under-14 and ASEAN School Games.

"I'm looking to contribute as much as possible for my team. I'm also hoping to score a couple of goals," said the striker.

Myanmar Mandalay Academy, Lao Toyota Academy, Philippines Global FC Under-15, and Frenz Malaysia B are the other teams in Group B.

Group A is made up of Frenz Malaysia A, Singapore NFA, Vietnam PVF Academy, Phnom Penh Crown Academy, Thailand Chonburi Academy and Timor Leste U-15s.

The Brunei Times

Brunei set to challenge for FAM Frenz ASEAN Champion's Trophy

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, May 26, 2013

BRUNEI will kick-off their Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Frenz Under-15 ASEAN Champions Trophy campaign on Saturday.

The Sultanate, to be represented by the NFABD Under-15, will go up against the visiting Frenz Indonesia in the group B of the inaugural tournament at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas at 8.15pm.

Twelve teams from eleven ASEAN countries and Timor Leste are divided into two groups of six for round robin matches played in both home and away matches.

Brunei's NFABD Under-15 and Frenz Indonesia will be joined by Myanmar Mandalay Academy, Lao Toyota Academy, Philippines Global FC Under-15, and Frenz Malaysia B.

Meanwhile, group A is made up of Frenz Malaysia A, Singapore NFA, Vietnam PVF Academy, Phnom Penh Crown Academy, Thailand Chonburi Academy and Timor Leste U-15s.

The May 25-Sept 8 tournament, which is the brainchild of the FAM Deputy President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and the Frenz United Football Academy of Pahang, Malaysia offers a grand prize US$50,000 to the champions, while, US$25,000 will go to the runners-up.

"In supporting the vision of FAM in promoting and developing football at the grassroots level, we are pleased to announce that Brunei will be participating in the FAM Frenz Under-15 ASEAN Champions Trophy for the first time this year," said Pehin Datu Indera Sugara Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Hj Mohammad Yusof Abu Bakar, the NFABD vice-president, during the tournament's press conference at the Jurys room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium yesterday.

Brunei was scheduled to play Lao Toyota FC from Laos at Chaoanouvong Stadium in Vientiane yesterday for their first match. However, due to unavoidable circumstances, the match had to be postponed to a later date yet to be announced by the organising committee.

"There were some complications regarding our opening match in Laos. But we have sorted it out and now we will welcome a team from Indonesia (Frenz Indonesia) on Saturday," said the NFABD vice-president.

"On behalf of NFABD, I would like to call all the football fans nationwide to give their full support and encouragement to our team during the tournament," he added.

Twenty players have been selected by head coach Liew Chuan Fue for the tournament. The list of the players comprised of two goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and four stikers.

"Most of the players are students from schools in the country, while some of them are from the local football team Projek Ikan Pusu (PIP)," NFABD Secretary General Mohd Nor Hj Abdullah told The Brunei Times yesterday.

"The decision to join the tournament was rather last minute as we were only come to know about it earlier this month. However, we managed to prepare the team in as series of friendly matches for the tournament," he added.

The top two of each group in the tournament will progress to the semi-finals, to be contested over two home and away legs. The two legs of the grand finals are slated for August 24 and September 1. The football fans in the country and the general public are invited to watch the matches throughout the tournament and entrance to all games are free of charge.

The Brunei Times

Young Lions frustrate DPMM FC

Jason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, May 26, 2013

YOUNG Lions finally picked up their first point of the Singapore League season last night the only problem was that it was against DPMM FC.

Singapore's national Under-23 team fought out a 1-1 draw in a match that saw both teams reduced to 10-men, Shahrazen Said receiving his marching orders after a 35th minute head-butt on Sheikh Abdul Hadi who appeared to have punched the striker, who just seconds earlier was shown his first yellow for a harsh tackle on the defender while the visitors had Sahil Suhaimi sent off for stamping defender Pg Sallehuddin Pg Hj Damit just past the hour mark.

Shahrazen's brother Adi opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a header off a cross from captain Rosmin Hj Mohd Kamis to cap off a period of strong pressure by the hosts at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas, though the Young Lions would roar back after Shahrazen's dismissal and claimed what would be only their third goal in 13 S-League games with Sahil's low effort from the edge of the box after a counter-attack.

Last season's runners-up, DPMM FC have now dropped from sixth to seventh in the 12-team S-League due to last night's other results; Balestier Khalsa FC shocked defending champions and leaders Tampines Rovers FC 4-0 to move to third, though Warriors FC's 1-1 draw against Woodlands Wellington FC had no bearing on DPMM FC's standing.

"I always knew the Young Lions would get a point, it's just unfortunate they got it here," said DPMM FC's coach Vjeran Simunic, whose team fell to their second straight defeat after losing 2-1 to Hougang United FC last Wednesday.

"I'm not happy with the result, but I'm happy with how we played.

"I couldn't have asked for more from my players.

"We were horribly unlucky but I don't blame Shahrazen.

"Shahrazen is guilty, but if you were hit, how would you feel?," argued the reigning S-League Coach of the Year.

The Young Lions came into the match without a single point after 12 games largely due to the fact that they had the results of four games overturned after fielding ineligible players, but Simunic always knew the challenge at hand, pointing out before the match that all of the Young Lions' defeats have been by one goal.

No surprise, then, that his counterpart feels last night's result will help them turn a new leaf.

"I'm confident this will be a good start for us," said Aide Iskandar as he looked around the dark and empty 30,000 capacity venue that was once a fortress for DPMM FC.

"Win or lose, we always respect our opponents," added the former Singapore national team skipper when asked why all his players lined up to shake Simunic's hand after the game.

Simunic's insistence that he was happy with his players' performance was understandable.

Yet again, midfielder Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris showed why he is becoming the team's puppet-master in midfield, pulling all the strings and hitting inch-perfect cross-field passes for fun with comparisons to Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso not out of place though this is his first season for the club.

It was his quick pass to Rosmin which put the captain into space on the left, and his cross was met by an equally deft header by Adi.

The striker, though, was guilty of missing several other chances, the most notable when he hit the post during an one-on-one with goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari in the second half.

Though the Young Lions clearly lacked the experience which leads to better decision-making, and perhaps even a bit of technique, it was hardly a stroll in the park for DPMM FC goalkeeper Wardun Yussof.

Iqbal Hussain forced the glovesman into a brave point-blank save in the 23th minute, and Sahil gave him another scare when he hit the crossbar two minutes later.

Iqbal produced another stop from Wardun after a vicious shot from inside the box in the 67th minute and substitute Faiz Salleh hit the side netting four minutes later but Wardun's best contribution came in the 90th minute when he smartly rushed out of the box to clear the danger posed by an onrushing Young Lions' captain Raihan Rahman .

DPMM FC could have came away with all three points in the 85th minute, but Rosmin's shot from the edge of the box sailed wide of the bar exemplifying the hosts' night perfectly.

DPMM FCs next game S-League game is on June 28 against Japanese outfit Albirex Niigata (S) FC, though they will first have to face Lao Police FC in their Singapore Cup campaign opener on Thursday the Laotians the defending champions of their league after defeating runners-up Yotha FC by one point last season.

Meanwhile at the Toa Payoh Stadium in Singapore last night, Tampines were dealt their second S-League loss of the season after Qiu Li and Kim Minho put Balestier 2-0 up at the break.

The former netted in the 39th minute and the latter found the net two minutes before the breather.

It got even worse for the Stags when Paul Cunningham made it 3-0 in the 47th minute, with Park Kang Jins 55th minute goal handing the titleholders home empty-handed.

Atsushi Shimono put Woodlands 1-0 up at the 63rd minute at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium in Singapore but Tatsuro Inui would steal the Warriors a draw with a goal two minutes before time.

The Brunei Times

DPMM FC drop to sixth place

Syarif Rasani
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

DPMM FC moved down to sixth on the Singapore League table after Harimau Muda B defeated Woodlands Wellington 2-0 to move up to fifth with 20 points on Saturday.

According to the S-League website, Harimau Muda B (Malaysian national Under-21 team) striker Ridzuan Abdunloh got the opener after his volley was saved which he quickly acted upon to score in the 13th minute.

Harimau Muda B Yazid Zaini's bagged the second goal of the night after a solo run dodging central defenders Cho Sung Hwan and Shariff Samat before knocking it in to the bottom corner in the 29th minute at the Pasir Gudang Stadium.

Harimau Muda B Ridzuan was later sent off in the 74th minute after receiving his second yellow card of the game.

DPMM FC who have one game in hand over Harimau Muda B are two points shy of taking their previous spot.

The next match for DPMM FC will be facing Young Lions on Saturday who are sitting at the bottom of the league with 0 points from 12 losses.

The Young Lions were last defeated 3-0 by DPMM FC in their last S-League game on March 7 at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

DPMM FC striker Joao Moreira will not be expecting to play for a couple of months after being struck with a hamstring injury and he was only seen jogging around the field during yesterday's training at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.

Striker Shahrazen Said who is also suffering from a hamstring injury is also a doubt and it is unlikely that he will be risked in their next home game at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

DPMM FC will need to win their upcoming match against the Young Lions to move back up and reclaim the fifth spot in the table.

Tanjong Pagar United who are sitting in third place in the S-League finally snatched a 2-1 win over the Warriors after losing their two previous games against Harimau Muda B and Balestier Khalsa.

Warriors' Sufian Anuar took the lead in the 37th minute, which was shortly equalised two minutes later by Asraf Rashid.

Tanjong Pagar's winning goal came from Hafiz Nor in the 68th minute.
The Brunei Times

AFC punish Brunei

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

THE Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has fined Brunei US$5,000 for their last-minute withdrawal from the AFC Challenge Cup Group E qualifiers in Manila in March.

AFC's Disciplinary Committee met last Tuesday, and the committee imposed fines and suspensions on following recent violations of regulations - with the fine one of 37 decisions the committee reached.

"(The) National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) ordered to pay a fine of US$5,000/- for the violation of Article 20 par. c) of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 Regulations," stated AFC in a list of violations in regulations posted on their website.

"(The) National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam is reminded to better plan and manage its participation in future AFC competitions," it added.

When The Brunei Times sought the reaction of NFABD, the organisation remained silent and chose not to comment.

The AFC Challenge Cup Maldives 2014 regulations' Section 3:20 (c) states that the participating member association is required to pay compensation for any and all damages or losses suffered by the other participating member associations, the AFC and AFC's commercial and TV partner(s) in case of their withdrawal.

The fine came as no surprise as the regional football governing body told The Brunei Times in March that they would take action on the country's withdrawal from the tournament.

"We will definitely take action and we are currently looking into it," said an AFC spokesperson.

Brunei can consider themselves lucky that they were only handed a fine and not be forced to sit the next edition of the competition out as it was also stated in Section 3:20 (c) that "a participating member association (that) withdraws after entering or does not report for a match at any stage of the competition will be disqualified from taking part in the next edition of the competition."

The Sultanate pulled out of the March 22-26 tournament on March 19 and only informed AFC the next day.

In the previous report in The Brunei Times on March 20, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports confirmed that the Sultanate would not be at the four-team tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

"Due to unavoidable circumstances, Brunei Darussalam is unable to participate in the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers scheduled to be held in the Philippines from March 22-26," said the ministry's permanent secretary Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar on March 19.

Brunei were set to face hosts Philippines, Turkmenistan and Cambodia in Manila, but Brunei's last-minute withdrawal saw AFC award 3-0 wins to all of the country's three opponents.

The Brunei Times

Brunei to pay fine for AFC withdrawal

1. National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam is ordered to pay a fine of USD5,000/- for the violation of
Article 20 par. c) of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 Regulations.

2. National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam is reminded to better plan and manage its participation in future AFC competitions.

AFC

FIFA to give proposals today

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, May 16, 2013

EVERYTHING looks to be in order for the further development of Brunei football.

FIFA Development Officer Jeysing Muthiah from Kuala Lumpur has acquired all the information needed for him to make a proposal to the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD).

Muthiah, together with FIFA Technical Consultant Sivaji Nair of Singapore, are in the Sultanate for the five-day Football Management Program of FIFA Action Plan.

Over the past three days, they have talked to the stakeholders, visited schools and clubs, met with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Ministry of Education as well as checked out training sessions and witnessed match play.

They will be giving recommendations to the Sultanate's football governing body today at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Jerudong.

"We will give suggestions and it is up to them (NFABD) which one they want to adapt and see which one they want to achieve," said Muthiah.

"We have gathered a lot of information and there has been good feedback. But of course some are positive and some are negative.

"So we are compiling all these findings and we will have our own internal meeting today/tonight (Wednesday) to prepare some recommendations based on the information from the various stakeholders," he added.

"Then we will make some recommendations by presenting it to the NFABD Exco members. During the seminar they will have their own workshop.

"The Exco will discuss and come up with an action plan for the next two years on how to improve football.

"We will be there help to facilitate then FIFA will also come in to help them achieve this action plan," continued Muthiah.

The FIFA Development Officer also highlighted that different countries have different needs and they will have to come up with something that will work with the local culture.

The FIFA Officials will return to the Sultanate periodically to check on the progress of the plan once it is implemented.

The Brunei Times

DPMM FC's pain in the rain

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, May 16, 2013

DPMM FC were left crying in the rain after they succumbed to their fifth defeat of the season, falling 2-1 to Hougang United FC in the Singapore League (S-League) last night.

Contested at the Hougang Stadium in Singapore, Azhar Sairudin gave the hosts the lead after a good solo effort to find the back of the net in the 34th minute.

Brunei's only professional team equalised six minutes later through Shahrulrizal Abd Rahman after he pounced on a rebound from a corner kick.

Hougang were winning the aerial battle with their players having the height advantage.

The game-winner for Hougang came on the hour mark with Thomas Beattie scoring on the rebound after a freekick.

DPMM FC tried to even things up by putting on Portuguese striker Joao Moreira, who is not at 100 per cent, in the 72nd minute for Azwan Salleh.

DPMM FC head coach, Vjeran Simunic, believed that they should have at least taken a point out of the game.

"It was a very tough game for us. I thought we controlled most of the first half but things changed in the second as we were put under pressure with all the freekicks given to our opponents," said the head coach in a phone interview after the loss.

"We did create some chances of our own but the Hougang keeper (Fadhil Salim) had a very good game.

"Overall our opponents looked more experienced fielding four imports on the pitch while we only had one," he said.

"We also clearly missed (Hj Muhd) Subhi (Abdillah Hj Bakir) in the match but I couldn't have asked for more from the team. I thought we deserved at least a draw," continued the Croatian.

DPMM FC remain in fifth spot with 18 points from 13 games. Hougang, who have won four straight, move up to seventh just a point back.

The Brunei side will play their next game against the winless Young Lions (Singaporean national Under-23 team) on May 25 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

The league continues today with Geylang International FC going up against Balestier Khalsa FC at the Bedok Stadium.

The Brunei Times

It's Santos to the rescue

Jason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, May 11, 2013

TALES Ricarte dos Santos' dramatic 90th minute goal helped DPMM FC snap a two game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Home United FC last night, the Brazilian also scoring the opener and providing an assist for Adi Said in a career-defining match which also saw him pull off a goal-line clearance.

Home looked to have dealt DPMM FC another potentially fatal blow at home after Jordan Webb hit a 87th minute equaliser when pouncing on a mix-up in defence to slot the ball into an empty net, but striding confidently forward, Santos had other ideas.

Substitute Ak Fakharazzi Pg Hj Hassan's volley hit the inside of the right post and rolled onto the path of Santos, who calmly side-footed the ball past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Shahril Jantan going on to celebrate wildly with the rest of the team and the fans at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

DPMM FC entered the game having lost both of their previous two home matches, and their scoring touch along with it, so Santos couldn't have picked a better time to produce his best performance of the Singapore League season.

Perhaps more crucially, the match marked the first time the team took to the field after releasing the import trio of striker Ivan Bosnjak, midfielder Stephen Auvray and defender Dino Drpic on Wednesday and the club's only other import, Portuguese striker Joao Moreira, was still on the injury list.

Most of the pre-match talk revolved around how DPMM FC would cope without the import trio who were dismissed after poor form and injury and striker Shahrazen Said, who was out with a hamstring strain.

But Brunei's only professional club proved their depth and character last night, and putting their bodies on the line, outran and out-fought the visitors until the final whistle in a match that is set to go down as a season-changer for a side which finished second last season but has failed to live up to expectations this term.

"I have always told my teammates that their level is very good, better than the Singaporean (locals)," said Santos, who now has three S-League goals this season.

"If we fight, are smart, play with the ball and attack... We can win.

"We showed today we can fight for 90 minutes. Home scored a late equaliser but we always believed.

"I remember telling the team the same thing when we played Home in last year's League Cup quarter-finals.

"We were down 1-0 and I told the team we cannot lose. I went up and scored after a cross from Param (Azwan Salleh) and we went on to win the game on penalties," said Santos, who thanked his physiotherapist Saulo de Tarso for helping him recover from a knee operation before the start of the season.

"I am 100 per cent recovered and I must thank my physiotherapist, Saulo de Tarso, for that. He worked with me for only three months and now I am alright," he added.

Santos gave DPMM FC the lead after heading home a corner from captain Rosmin Hj Mohd Kamis after eight minutes, though Home replied straight from the kick-off when Masrezwan Masturi beat goalkeeper Wardun Yussof at his near post, handing the Protectors a precious psychological boost.

DPMM FC would regain their cushion when the towering Santos headed a corner to Adi, who scored unmarked on the far post in the 27th minute.

The confident Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris was pulling all the strings in the DPMM FC midfield with some strong running and accurate passing the whole game, but their best chance of the second half fell to left-winger Sairol Hj Sahari who connected well on a 76th minute cross from Ak Fakharazzi but saw Shahril up to the task.

Piling on the pressure, Home would hit the post twice in the last 10 minutes with South Korean playmaker Lee Kwan-Woo also unlucky to see his 40-yard free-kick bounce off the bar early in the second half.

Wardun also had to save a free-kick from French defender Sirina Camara and another from Lee, and it was only due to some good tracking back and positional awareness that DPMM FC were able to maintain their lead.

The visitors' persistence paid off when Wardun came out of his box and Webb stole in for the equaliser, but DPMM FC didn't let the goal affect them.

Trotting up from defence, Santos took a gamble that would pay off handsomely though his coach's insistence that the win was down to a team effort was entirely understandable.

"Tales was not the player of the match, DPMM FC was. Many players were not 100 per cent but they gave their best, and they are all heroes," said Vjeran Simunic, whose team now jumps two spots to fifth.

"For me, this was one of the most important games in my life because this was the start of a new era for DPMM FC," added last season's S-League Coach of the Year.

Even Home's assistant coach was impressed with DPMM FC's strong fighting spirit.

"Credit to them, they worked hard even though they had no foreign players and they took their chances," said Aidil Sharin Sahak.

"We could see their commitment and determination, and they closed us down well."

The Brunei Times

Bosjnak Incredulous Over DPMM Sacking

Reported by: Gary Koh

ROM BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI DARULSSALAM

Brunei was Ivan Bosjnak’s fourth overseas stop in a well-established 16-year professional career after Libya, Greece and China, but even all his experience in these three countries did not prepare him for what was to come in the sultanate.

Together with fellow Croat Dino Dpric and Guadelopean international Stephane Auvray, the 34-year-old striker was unceremoniously dismissed from former employers Brunei DPMM FC on Wednesday in a press statement released by the club website.

Speaking exclusively to Football OPOD the day after the news broke, the 2006 World Cup player expressed his incredulity on the club’s abrupt termination of his contract three months into the season.

For someone who has played alongside the likes of Luka Modric, Verdan Corluka and Bosko Balaban at professional level, Bosjnak revealed his shock at this level of treatment.

“I have never seen anything like this,” muttered the father-of-one.

“It’s weird and crazy. When I speak with them, it’s finished. I want to do something, (but) things happen.

“I just want to say, this is not the way to shoot and ill-treat a player who has serious injury.”

The former club marquee player had only recently recovered from a series of injuries he was afflicted with since joining the sultanate’s sole professional club early this year.

The most serious case was his skull injury that was inflicted during the team’s 3-3 draw with Hougang United in their first home match of the season.

“I have serious injury,” he continued. “I have broken my bone and blood went into my brain and I could have gotten into big trouble.

“Second game I broke my bone (skull). I need to rest for two months. I didn’t do anything and I said I would be back on the field as soon as possible.”

Bosnjak would subsequently make only four appearances for DPMM and last featured in their 0-2 loss to Warriors FC in Brunei before the sudden termination.

He felt the cancellation totally unjustified because he believed he had yet to display his full array of abilities that made him a Croatian international and feature in the World Cup.

“Maybe I went back too soon and I got one more small injury,” he lamented.

“Now two games I play and I build my power up after two months out, my contract was finished.

“When I need peace and a few more games to fully get my physical and power, now this (happens).”

The grievance came as the multiple domestic title winner in his homeland felt DPMM were impatience and unfairly sacked him due to his lack of goals after so few appearances due to injury.

Bosjnak added: “If I had played 12 games and they told me I wasn’t good enough, I would have said, ‘ok, I will now go home.’

“If I am (involved as a coach or technical staff at a) club, I will never release somebody with injury threat. I will give him (time) to come back and get back into shape and in peak condition.

“If after 10 games (he is still) no good, then he goes.”

The former Croatia Zagreb and Genk forward expressed his exasperation in the manner his fellow new imports were selected and the near-impossible task his compatriot coach Verjan Simunic has in repeating the solid run of results this season as he had last year through these new faces.

“You don’t buy five foreigners (simply) because you buy five foreigners. But that’s what they did,” he added.

“Because you put them on field and they cannot play together. You have to check which kind of player fits then you sign the player who can bring something to the team.

“For example like me, my style of play requires a good playmaker. (But) here they just select imports because they like them, then coach (Simunic) needs to make magic that we can play good, (which is) not easy.”

Despite his trials in Brunei, Bosjnak is not looking to hang up his boots just yet. He has revealed his intention to either continue his career in Southeast Asia, preferably Singapore, or return home to gradually wind up his career.

“I don’t know and don’t care what happened because of the way my contract was (abruptly) cancelled,” stated the former Croatia attacker.

“I am a professional (player) for twenty years and if for them, doing this is professional they need to work like this. I cannot say nothing. This is football here and this is not the only club in the world.

“Now I will be here five more days to settle everything and speak to my agent. Now I am full healthy and full ready, I will look for a new club.”

footballopod

Brunei DPMM part ways with foreign trio

By Khalis Rifhan
khalis.rifhan@goal.com
@KhalisRifhan

Brunei DPMM have announced via its official website that they have parted ways with three of their foreign players, namely defender Dino Drpic, midfielder Stephane Auvray and striker Ivan Bosnjak.

Although there was speculation earlier in the month that the Sultanate’s only professional club would be releasing Auvray during the mid-season transfer in June, there was no indication that the other two will also be following the Guadeloupean international out of the club. 

Speaking exclusively to Goal.com Singapore, Auvray confirmed the news and said that he was already making plans for his next destination.

“Thank God, I have always been very professional and respectful in all the clubs I have played for and therefore I have a good image in France and on the American continent," said the former New York Red Bulls player.

"My agent and I will now start to consider new opportunities abroad.”

DPMM ended the previous season as runners-up but have yet to find their rhythm this season and currently languish in sixth place after 11 matches in the S.League, 10 points behind league leaders Tampines Rovers. 

Former Croatia international Bosnjak was brought in to entertain the Bruneians with his goal-scoring exploits, but the 34-year-old has had a miserable campaign with the club thus far.

Although Drpic had decent performances for the club, it is believed that coach Vjeran Simunic is keen to bring in a more attacking player into the squad to share the load with strikers Joao Moreira and Brunei international Shahrazen Said. 

Former Portugal Under-21 international Moreira has six goals to his name while Shahrazen has hit the back of the net four times this season.

The club also indicated in its website that it will be welcoming former Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander player Gonzalo Colsa Albendea for trials in Brunei soon.

In April, DPMM had announced that former Juventus playmaker Stephen Appiah, former Messina and Ascoli player Domenico Giampa and former Fulham midfielder Luis Boa Morte were expected to arrive at the club to undergo a trial session, but till date there has still been no sign of the trio taking the flight into Brunei.

DPMM FC play Lao Police on May 30

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

DPMM FC will kick off their Singapore Cup campaign on May 30 against Lao Police FC.

This was revealed during the unveiling of their new kit for said competition yesterday at their office in Gadong.

The Pool B encounter will be no walk in the park for Brunei's only professional team as Lao Police were crowned champions in last season's Lao League after defeating runners-up Yotha FC by one point.

The preliminary round draw for the competition was held in Singapore last month.

The teams this year would be drawn on a round-by-round basis, unlike previous editions where teams were drawn with a clear route to the final.

At the end of each round, clubs from the same pool will be drawn in pairs, which will decide their next opponent.

The champions will receive $100,000 while the runners-up and second runners-up will receive $60,000 and $40,000 respectively.

That is an increase of $20,000 for each podium-finisher when compared to 2012.

The other matchups in Pool B will see Loyola Meralco Sparks FC of the Philippines take on Harimau Muda, Boeung Ket FC of Cambodia against Tanjong Pagar United FC and another Philippine side, Global FC, against defending champions Warriors FC (who were formerly known as Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) FC.

Though DPMM FC have won the Singapore League Cup twice and ended last season as Singapore League (S-League) runners-ups, they have failed to progress past the quarter-finals of the Singapore Cup in both previous attempts.

Their debut in 2009 saw them beat Indonesian side Pelita Jaya 1-0 in the first round (round of 16) but were then knocked out of the last-eight after going down 7-3 on aggregate to Thai outfit TTM Samut Sakhon.

Last year's edition saw them fall at the first hurdle after Home United beat them 1-0 despite playing with 10-men for most of the second half.

Warriors FC won last year after downing S-League champions Tampines Rovers 2-1 for their fifth triumph in the competition.

DPMM FC, meanwhile, have registered their logo as a trademark in Brunei since July last year.

They prohibit any production of merchandise with the use of the logo without any authorisation from the club. Action can be taken against those who use it without their consent. The latest kit can be obtained from the DPMM FC office.

The Brunei Times

DPMM FC slump to second loss in a row

Jason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, May 6, 2013

DPMM FC slumped to their second defeat in as many games after two goals in five minutes gave Warriors FC a shock 2-0 win over Brunei's only professional side last night.

Both strikes came in the second half, and both came after pin-point passes were met by delicate finishes with DPMM FC simply unable to break down a resilient Warriors defence which was led superbly by Singapore national goalkeeper Hassan Sunny.

The result against the record eight-time S-League champions was also the second time DPMM FC have failed to find the net in as many Singapore League games at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas, with their 1-0 loss to Tanjong Pagar United FC on April 7 still fresh in the memory of the sparse crowd.

Tanjong Pagar handed leaders and defending champions Tampines Rovers FC their first loss of the season by beating them 1-0 in last night's other game at the Queenstown Stadium in Singapore, though that result will have little bearing on DPMM FC considering last season's runners-up trail the Stags by 10 points.

Warriors are now one point behind sixth-placed DPMM FC, but Vjeran Simunic feel the most successful club in Singapore are capable of much more than seventh.

"They're a very good team, a top-three contender. I can't say they don't deserve the result, but we deserved a draw," said the DPMM FC.

DPMM FC Portuguese striker Joao Moreira missed the game due to a fracture he picked up in the team's last match against Harimau Muda (Malaysian Under-21 national team) which ended in a 2-1 loss on Wednesday, and the hosts looked toothless in attack.

Guadeloupe national team captain Stephan Auvray made his first appearance in four games, and it was hard to see what impact the midfielder had on the game often times looking out of sync with his teammates.

Croatian centre-back Dino Drpic set the tone for the first half by hitting the crossbar in the seventh minute and Shahrazen Said had an effort that was wide of the left post four minutes later.

The visitors soon got a foot in the game and DPMM FC's Brazilian defender Tales Ricarte dos Santos was forced to clear a shot by Japanese midfielder Shimpei Sakurada off the line in the 13th minute.

Warriors' Croatian striker Mislav Karoglan had a golden opportunity to give his team a lead heading into the break, but was just a step too slow to react to a 41st minute square pass by Prakash Manikam.

Shahrazen should have made it 1-0 in the 48th minute after stealing the ball off Croatian defender Marin Vidosevic but his shot was inches wide of the left post.

DPMM FC goalkeeper Wardun Yussof did well to dive to block an attempt from the onrushing Karoglan four minutes later, and his counterpart Hassan pulled off the save of the game after instinctively falling to his right to deny a tap in from Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris in the 53rd minute.

Santos had a header fly inches wide off the right post in the 68th minute, but the game's defining moment came five minutes later when Singapore international Shi Jiayi hit a cross-field pass that dissected DPMM FC's backline and found Sakurada who produced a cool finish past Wardun.

The home crowd grew even more silent when Shukor Zailan's through ball caught Santos out of position, with Karoglan easily prevailing in another one-on-one with Wardun.

DPMM FC opted to go the direct route and launch attacks over the top, but Hassan mastered his box well with the hosts' best chance to pull one back falling to captain Rosmin Hj Mohd Kamis, who took one touch too many when put through on goal in the 84th minute.

"We deserved to win. We could have been up 2-0 at the break and in the second half we took advantage of the high line they were playing," said Warriors' coach V Selvaraj.

"We have experienced players that can see (the forwards') movements and we have (players) that can make those runs," he added.

The only run DPMM FC seem to be on is a goalless one at home, and their fans will be looking anxiously at Friday's game against ironically Home United FC to see whether the third time will be the charm.

The Brunei Times

Simunic sweats over midfield fitness

Jason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

VJERAN Simunic is sweating on the fitness of three midfielders ahead of DPMM FC's Singapore League game against Harimau Muda B (Malaysian national Under-21 side) today.

Hj Mohd Subhi Abdillah Hj Bakir who has been used as a right-back this season joins left-winger Azwan Salleh and central midfielder Azwan Ali Rahman on the injured list, and though DPMM FC's coach seemed confident that at least one of the three will be fit enough to play some part in today's proceedings at the Pasir Gudang Stadium in Johor, Malaysia, Simunic already has a contigency plan in place.

"Jimbo (Hj Mohd Subhi) got a kick in the last game against Balestier (on April 19), Param (Azwan Salleh) is still injured from the game against Geylang (on April 3) and Azwan Ali Rahman is recovering from a challenge from Fahrudin (Fahrudin Mustafic) when we played Tampines Rovers (on April 16)," said Simunic (pic) on Monday.

"Param has a lingering knee injury that we are monitoring.

"If Param is playing we will use a 3-5-2 formation, but now we will switch to 3-4-3 and play Hendra (Mohd Hendra Azam Mohd Idris) and Bobby (captain Rosmin Hj Mohd Kamis) in central midfield and Najib (Md Najib Hj Tarif) on the left and Helmi (Helmi Zambin) on the right," added the Croatian.

Shahrazen Said is expected to start in front with Croatian striker Ivan Bosjank, with Portuguese Joao Moreira who leads the team in scoring with six goals playing in the hole.

DPMM FC enter the game knowing that a win will see them jump from fifth to fourth in the 12-team table, displacing Home United in the process.

A large win by five goals or more might even be enough for them to leapfrog Home and Tanjong Pagar and move to third on goal difference.

Last season's S-League runners-up, DPMM FC who led the league during certain periods of last year are in unfamiliar territory this campaign.

They currently trail leaders and defending champions Tampines by 10 points, though both teams have at least a game in hand over the rest of the field.

After picking up only one win in their first four games, DPMM FC's season has picked up pace after clinching three of their next five matches, with the 1-1 draw against Tampines the only time any team have taken points from the Stags serving as a boost for Simunic.

"Tampines deserve to be on top," admitted Simunic.

"But that game... It was our best performance against them ever. We didn't give them any space and they didn't have any chances," said the Croatian, despite knowing that the result was the third time in a row Tampines have scored a 90th minute goal to deny DPMM FC a win.

Harimau Muda B's performance is a far cry from Tampines, which is perhaps to be expected from a young team making its debut in one of Asia's most competitive leagues.

They are coming into the game on the back of losses against Home (1-0 on April 29) and Hougang (3-1 last Friday), and with 10 goals from as many matches, it is evident that finding the back of the net hasn't been a strong point.

The fact that it is a defender Mohammad Ridzuan Abdunloh Pula who is leading the team in scoring, and that too with three goals, will not be lost on Simunic.

Monday's action saw Thomas Beattie's 52nd minute goal secure Hougang a 1-0 win over Home, the result lifting Hougang up two places to ninth.

The Brunei Times