Brunei go down fighting to FELDA United

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, January 31, 2016

THE national football team went down fighting 3-0 to the Malaysian Super League side FELDA United last night in the Sabah Football Association (SAFA) Tawau Invitational tournament in Tawau, Sabah.
The Wasps finished winless in the three-team competition after falling 2-0 to Sabah in the opener on Friday at the Tawau Sports Complex. FELDA United had the best of starts and grabbed the lead in the seventh minute with Thiago Fernandes finding the back of the net.
Fernandes bagged a double after scoring again in the 40th minute to see FELDA United lead 2-0 at halftime.
FELDA United only needed five minutes after the interval to add to the scoresheet courtesy of Christie Jayaseelan to seal the victory.
The Rhinos and FELDA United will face each other in the final match today.
The Wasps are using the three-day competition to gain experience to prepare players for the AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Suzuki Cup qualifiers and SUKMA (Malaysian Games).

The Brunei Times

DPMM FC sponsors get on board for 2016

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, January 30, 2016

DPMM FC held their annual sponsor signing ceremony for the upcoming Singapore League (S-League) season yesterday.
The ceremony at the Red Jade Room of the Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong was witnessed by DPMM FC vice-chairman YAM Pg Maharaja Setia Laila Diraja Sahibul Irshad Pg Anak Hj Abdul Rahim Pg Indera Mahkota Pg Anak (Dr) Kemaludin Al-Haj.
Representing DPMM FC were club manager Pg Hj Muhd Waslimin Pg Setia Jaya Pg Hj Abd Momin and marketing manager Hj Momin Hj Md Ja’afar while representatives from DST Group, Royal Brunei Airlines, Mitsubishi Corporation, Maju Motors Sdn Bhd, Brunei Shell Marketing Co, Baiduri Bank, Hertz, Hui Huang Enterprise, Nazmi Textile Mall and Sports Partnership Pte Ltd signed on as sponsors.
DPMM FC also unveiled their new home jersey during the event.
Brunei’s only professional team are coming off their best season to date after capturing their maiden S-League title last year.
However, the squad for the new season has not been finalised yet as the player signing ceremony was not conducted yesterday.
DPMM FC team manager Ali Hj Momin revealed that they are retaining most of the players and have yet to decide whether to go for a pre-season tour.
“The majority of the team are made up of the same imports and local players with two or three new young players to fill in the rest of the slots,” said Ali in an interview with The Brunei Times after the signing ceremony yesterday.
“We are still selecting and will finalise the roster soon.
“We received invitations from neighbouring countries to play but we haven’t decided where to go because of the limited time.
“There is only a short amount of time before the season starts so we can’t go for long as well,” continued Ali.
With the import quota reduced from five to three this season, the club have released Bosnian defender Boris Raspudic and Northern Irish midfielder Joe Gamble.
The duo of Rafael Ramazotti (Brazil) and Paulo Sergio (Portugal) are the only imports that are back in the Sultanate while Northern Irish defender Brian McLean has yet to arrive in Brunei as he just became a father for the first time recently.
“I hope he (McLean) can get fit as soon as possible. We know it is hard for him having his first baby and he is outside of the country,” said Ali.
“Hopefully he will be here in February before we play our first game,” he added.
The DPMM FC manager also went on express his appreciation and thanked the sponsors, the Department of Youth and Sports and NFABD (National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam) for their continuous support.
DPMM FC kick off this year’s campaign on February 13 with a meeting against Singapore Cup and League Cup holders Albirex Niigata (S) FC in the Community Shield at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.
DPMM FC will also have their annual Football Fanfare tomorrow at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.
The event will begin at 8.45am, and a total of 16 Under-11 teams will vie for top honours in the competition.

The Brunei Times

Brunei lose to Sabah

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, January 30, 2016

BRUNEI fell 2-0 to Sabah in the opener of the Sabah Football Association (SAFA) Tawau Invitational tournament in Tawau, Sabah, last night. The Rhinos - who play in the second-tier Malaysian Premier League - took the lead in the 14th minute after Brazilian Marco Tulio Lopes Silva converted from the penalty spot at the Tawau Sports Complex.
Alto Linus then doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute. The Wasps face Malaysian Super League side FELDA United today.

The Brunei Times

Rafa, Paulo eager to reunite

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, January 22, 2016

DPMM FC forwards Rafael Ramazotti and Paulo Sergio are looking forward to joining forces once again for the upcoming Singapore League (S-League) season.

The duo, who scored a total of 34 goals between them last campaign, are the first two imports to arrive back in the sultanate for pre-season training with Northern Irish defender Brian McLean yet to arrive.

Ramazotti, who finished as the league’s topscorer with 21 goals, is looking forward to another good season with the defending champions.

“I need to play with this guy (Sergio) in every club and country. We need to play together because we can help each other and it is good,” said Ramazotti in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday after a training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.

“It is good we finished last year with a good season. Now we will see what happens and we hope to get the same feeling again,” he added.

“I don’t have a target for goals but the first objective is to win the league again and support my club. Sure if I score, I can help, but most important is what we can achieve as a group,” continued Ramazotti.

The 1.93m Brazilian striker also went on to thank everybody for supporting the club, especially in their final league game which saw them beat Balestier Khalsa FC 4-0 to lift the trophy for their first time at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Nov 27.

Sergio praised Ramazotti for his qualities but also felt that it is a pity that the import quota has been reduced from five to three this season.

“It is amazing to play with this guy. He has a lot of quality and I’m looking forward to having another good partnership with him this season,” said Sergio, who produced 17 assists last season.

“He is tall, strong and is good with the ball. It is a pleasure for me to play with him again,” he added.

“The other import players Joe (Gamble) and Boris (Raspudic) helped a lot in getting the win.

“If they stayed with us, it would be a lot better - but we will keep working and condition ourselves entering the league,” continued the Portuguese forward.
When asked on the target to defend the league title, Sergio replied: “This season, for sure it will be very hard for us to defend the title as other teams have made many transfers to strengthen their squad.

“This league is strong but we are here with this motivation in our mind that we want to be champions again,” he concluded.

DPMM FC will kick off their campaign against Singapore Cup winners Albirex Niigata (S) FC in the Community Shield on Feb 13 at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

They will then face off against Geylang International FC at the Bedok Stadium in Singapore six days later.

The Brunei side will play their first home game at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas against Warriors FC on Feb 27.

The Brunei Times

DPMM FC to face Albirex Niigata on February 13

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, January 14, 2016

SINGAPORE S-League champions DPMM FC will face Singapore Cup holder Albirex Niigata FC (S) in the community shield on February 13. The opener which also served as the curtain raiser for the S-League will be held at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.
DPMM FC claimed their first S-League title last year after finishing second best in 2014 and 2012. Last year was the best season to date for DPMM FC after finishing third in the Singapore Cup defeating the Philippines’ Global FC 3-1 in the third-place playoff.

The Brunei Times

Ramazotti staying with DPMM FC

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

SINGAPORE League (S-League) defending champions DPMM FC reassured yesterday that topscorer Rafael Ramazotti will be returning to ply his trade with the club for the upcoming season.
It was reported on Berita Harian on Monday that the Brazilian striker is set for trial with T-Team in the Malaysian League.
T-Team assistant coach Mohd Azhari Salim was quoted on the Malaysian daily saying: “Ramazotti is already in Kuala Lumpur and we will test him in a series of three friendly matches to look at his ability to lead the attack of The Titans.”
However, DPMM FC manager Ali Hj Momin rebutted the report and said that the 1.93m forward is still in Brazil.
“He isn't there (Kuala Lumpur). He contacted me last night (Monday night) about his ticket and that he will be coming back here from Brazil,” said Ali in an interview with The Brunei Times.
“He has already extended his contract with us till the end of the 2016 season,” he added.
Ramazotti was key to Brunei's only professional team winning their maiden S-League title last year after finding the back of the net 21 times in the competition.
He also received nominations in both the Goal of the Year and Player of the Year categories.
With the import quota being reduced from five to three for this season, Portuguese forward Paulo Sergio and Northern Irish defender Brian McLean are the other two retained.
Bosnian defender Boris Raspudic and Irish midfielder Joe Gamble were the other two imports that have been released. - Yee Chun Leong

The Brunei Times