Kean confident ahead of crucial clash

Syarif Rasani

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, September 26, 2014

DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean believes that they have the advantage going into the second leg of the Singapore Cup semi-final against Home United FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore tonight.
This will be the third time the two teams play each other in the span of just 10 days.
The first of three clashes saw Home United edge DPMM FC 2-1 during the Singapore League (S-League) at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas last Wednesday.
Roy O'Donovan then saved DPMM FC from going into the second leg 1-0 down after striking the back of the net in the 75th minute at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore on Tuesday.
Kean told The Brunei Times during a phone interview, “Well I think the good thing when you play a team so close together is that you get to know what they're good at and what they're not good at… So from a point of view, I think that's an advantage.”
“We finished the last match very well. I thought they were slightly better than us in the first half but I felt we were better in the second.
“We know why we've done so well in the second half… So that's what we will be looking to do from the first minute of the second game,” he said.
Kean noted that they will also have the upper hand with Joe Gamble coming off his suspension.
“We are confident because another added advantage is that we went through that game missing one of our import players, Joe Gamble, who's very important,” stated Kean.
“Now he's available, we have a stronger squad to select from,” he said.
Asked what if the outcome repeats itself and the game has to be decided on penalties, Kean replied, “We've got the experience from the league cup when we had to kick through a penalty shootout.”
DPMM FC's Singapore League Cup shootout saw them knock out Geylang International FC 3-0 to put them through to the final where they defeated Tanjong Pagar FC to lift the title.
“I think the extra-time period in the league cup showed the physical level that we have. We finished the game very strong and we managed to win the penalty shootout,” said Kean.
Balestier Khalsa FC sealed their spot in the final after gunning out Tampines Rovers 4-1 on penalties.
Tampines headed into the match with the advantage following a 2-1 victory in the first leg, but Balestier's strong defensive side and a goal by Paul Cunningham saw the two draw 2-2 on aggregate.
Neither team managed to put up a winning goal in extra time, leading to a fruitless sudden death period at the Tao Payoh Stadium in Singapore.

The Brunei Times

Timor Leste sink Brunei in opener

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Timor Leste’s Fernando Baptista Xavier (R) celebrates after scoring a goal against Brunei yesterday at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship in Selangor, Malaysia. Timor Leste won the match 2-0.Bernama

Tosi: It’s DPMM FC’s title to lose

vYee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, September 12, 2014

RODRIGO Tosi believes that the Singapore League (S-League) title is for DPMM FC to lose.
With only five games remaining in the season, DPMM FC are currently on 46 points and hold a five-point lead over second-placed Warriors FC.
Brunei’s only professional team will play the first three matches of the final and third round at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas followed by the last two in Singapore.
They will tackle Home United FC on Wednesday before Warriors FC on October 6.
The Brunei side will then have a 16-day break before hosting Balestier Khalsa FC on October 24 before flying out to Lion City to contest against Albirex Niigata (S) FC at the Jurong East Stadium four days later.
DPMM FC will close out the season against three-time defending champions Tampines Rovers at the Jalan Besar Stadium on October 31.
“I think to be honest… for us, it is perfect. If we can get great results and win (the three games) then we are going be champions,” said Tosi in an interview with The Brunei Times after a training session yesterday at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.
“All will be very difficult matches though as we already have a few losses and draws as well.
“But we have a really good chance to win the League and we are halfway there now,” continued the Brazilian.
“I think we are really confident. Everyone is practicing hard and wants to play
“Everyone knows we have a good chance as this is the first time for the club to make history by winning all three trophies,” he continued.
The DPMM FC striker currently leads the scoring charts with 21 goals to his name from 22 matches played so far.
Kazuki Sakamoto of Albirex is just a goal behind while Nicolas Velez of the Warriors has his tally at 18 goals.
Tosi insists that the winning the Golden Boot award is only secondary to the titles.
“I will try but that is not the most important thing,” said the 31-year-old.
“The important thing is for us to win the trophy at the end of the season. It will be perfect if we can get all three,” he concluded.
DPMM FC are in the running to create history by winning all three competitions – a feat that has never been done before.
The Brunei side already won the Singapore League Cup after defeating Tanjong Pagar United FC 2-0 in the final back in July.
They are also in the semi-finals of the Singapore Cup, set to play Home United FC.
The first leg will be contested at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore on September 23.
The return leg is scheduled at the Jalan Besar Stadium three days later.

The Brunei Times

Indera SC repeat as champs

• 

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

INDERA SC successfully defended their DST Super League title with two games left to play after a 7-1 thrashing of QAF FC last night.
The champions remain unbeaten in the competition on 40 points from 13 wins and one draw to their name. They will play Najip FC on Sunday and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) next Saturday.
It was all Indera right from kickoff as QAF were struggling to match their speed at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.
Indera broke the deadlock in the 10th minute after Hamizan Aziz Sulaiman found an unmarked Muhd Nur Ikhwan Othman inside the box.
The latter had his first attempt blocked by a QAF defender but fired the rebound into the top left corner.
The lead was doubled just two minutes later after Abd Khair Hj Basri outpaced the QAF backline to blast the ball into the net.
QAF got back in the game in the 15th minute after Hardi Bujang received a through-ball down the middle to slot the ball past Indera custodian Mohd Fakhrul Zulhazmi Yussof.
They threatened again two minutes later but Reduan Hj Petara made a crucial tackle before Hardi could unleash his shot from inside the box.
Indera got their third of the game in the 23rd minute after a good ball over the top was received by Mohd Khayrun Salleh.
QAF goalkeeper Junaidi Akim came off his line to try and close him down but the latter rounded him to put the ball into the empty net.
Indera required an acrobatic save by Mohd Fakhrul to prevent Mohd Hardyman Abdul Lamit from scoring from 25 yards out in the 29th minute.
Indera scored immediately on the other end after Junaidi raced off his line to clear the goalkick only to miss his target, passing it to Hamizan Aziz, who would dribble the ball into an empty net.
Hazmizan struck again five minutes later for his second goal of the game, bringing the scoreline to 5-1.
Defender Reduan played striker in the 41st minute as he outpaced the QAF backline to bulge the net from the edge of the box to carry a 6-1 advantage into halftime.
Indera were more laid back after the interval but still got plenty of chances.
The scoreline could have been larger had it not been for Junaidi producing some good saves in between the QAF sticks.
QAF could have scored another in the 71st minute after Mohd Adie Arsham Mohd Saleh headed Hardi’s cross from the right.
However, Mohd Fakhrul did enough to see the ball bounce off the crossbar.
Indera almost added to their tally two minutes later but Md Khairul Anwar Abd Rahim saw his freekick from just outside the box denied by the woodwork.
Hamizan Aziz would score his hat-trick after toying with QAF’s defence before firing home from inside the box for in the 90th minute.

The Brunei Times

Tosi delivers at deathTosi brace delivers maximum points

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, August 31, 2014

DPMM FC go five points clear at the top of the Singapore League (S-League) heading into the third round after a 2-1 comeback victory over Tanjong Pagar United FC last night.
Rodrigo Tosi converted a penalty four minutes into injury time to claim all three points for the Brunei side.
The Brazilian bagged a brace for DPMM FC in the victory, bringing his tally to a league-leading 20 goals, one up on Kazuki Sakamoto of Albirex Niigata (S) FC.
The triumph puts DPMM FC on 46 points from 22 matches, followed by Warriors FC with 41 points.
According to updates on the S-League facebook page, Tanjong Pagar took the lead in the 22nd minute after Kamel Ramdadi fired the ball into the bottom corner at the Queenstown Stadium in Singapore.
Roy O’Donovan was brought down in the penalty box four minutes later but the offence was waved off by the referee.
DPMM FC almost equalised in the 33rd minute but Tanjong Pagar goalkeeper Aurelien Herisson managed to tipped the ball over the bar.
O’Donovan was taken off at halftime to make way for Shahrazen Said.
DPMM FC were putting plenty of pressure on offence but Herisson replied with impressive saves.
Brunei’s only professional team finally equalised in the 61st minute after Tosi rose the highest to head home a corner.
Adi Said almost gave DPMM FC the lead five minutes later but saw his header go over the crossbar.
Herrison was kept busy and once again came to the rescue of Tanjong Pagar in the 86th minute but he ultimately failed to keep his team level in the dying moments of the match.
The other game saw Harimau Muda B (Malaysia national under-21 football team) steal a 1-1 draw against Woodlands Wellington FC at the Woodlands Stadium in Singapore.
Andy Ahmad broke the deadlock for Woodlands in the 54th minute after tapping in the ball.
It looked like they were heading home with all three points before Syafwan Sahlan netted for Harimau Muda in the 88th minute.
The competition continues on Tuesday with Hougang United FC hosting Harimau Muda at the Hougang Stadium in Singapore.
Hougang United are on 33 points and require only a point out of the match to be in the top half heading into the split round.
Balestier Khalsa FC, who are on 30 points but with a better goal difference, will need the Malaysians to win to keep their hopes alive.
They will also need to beat Harimau Muda at the Pasir Gudang Stadium in Johor on Friday to seal their berth.
Three-time defending champions Tampines Rovers, Warriors FC, Home United FC and Albirex Niigata (S) FC are all joining DPMM FC in the top half for the next round.

The Brunei Times

Brunei open with Timor Leste

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, August 28, 2014

BRUNEI will open their Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup qualifiers against Timor Leste on October 12.
The Sultanate will meet host Laos on October 14 before facing Myanmar two days later.
They will end their campaign with a match against Cambodia on October 20, with all matches set to be played at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane.
The winner of the group will move into Group B while the runners-up will earn a spot in Group A at the November 22 to December 20 tournament proper which will be co-hosted by Singapore and Vietnam.
Defending champions and four-time winners Singapore, three-time champions Thailand and 2010 winners Malaysia are drawn in Group B.
Group A will have Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines battling it out for a place in the last four of the tournament.
The last qualifiers in Myanmar in 2012 saw Brunei start their campaign with a 1-0 loss to hosts Myanmar before beating Cambodia 3-2.
A 3-1 loss to Laos squashed Brunei’s chances of making it through the tournament, but the team would end on a high by defeating Timor Leste 2-1.
Myanmar progressed to the tournament after topping the five-team qualifiers in Yangon, with Laos also advancing as runners-up.
According to a previous report in The Brunei Times, the last time Brunei played in the tournament’s main draw was in 1996 in Singapore, when the country lost three games and won one.
Competing in Group B, Brunei lost to Singapore (3-0), Thailand (6-0) and Malaysia (6-0), defeating the Philippines 1-0 in their last match.
Singapore are the most successful team in the tournament after winning it for the fourth time two years ago in what was the ninth edition of the event.
They beat Thailand 3-1 in the first leg in Singapore and despite losing the second leg 1-0, they held on to clinch the cup – with coach Radojko Avramović becoming the tournament’s most successful coach after previous wins in 2004 and 2007.

The Brunei Times