Discipline key for Brunei Darussalam against Mongolia, says Servais

Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei Darussalam head coach Robbie Servais wants a disciplined approach from his players for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Preliminary Round 1 Qualifier against Mongolia.

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Dutchman Servais said Mongolia are the favourites for the two-leg tie but believes Brunei Darussalam have a chance provided they stick to the game plan.

The first leg will be played in Ulaanbaatar on June 6 with the return match in Bandar Seri Begawan five days later.

“I think Mongolia are the favourites. Especially when we are playing away, we need to be very well-organised. I expect discipline from the players during the game so they should stay in their position and they should stay in the formation that we are going to play,” said Servais, the former Singapore U-19 head coach.

The Dutchman, however, is confident of getting his players ready despite the tough conditions that await them in Ulaanbaatar.

“The situation there is high altitude, the oxygen is less and the players are not used to the temperature over there. We need to be very disciplined and that is what I expect from the players," said Servais to local media.

The Southeast Asians will head to China PR on Monday for a training camp, which will also include a friendly against Beijing State University.

http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/fifa-world-cup/latest/news/discipline-key-for-brunei-darussalam-against-mongolia-says-servais

DPMM FC look to go nine points clear in Singapore league

by Fadhil Yunus   

DPMM FC will look to establish a nine-point lead at the top of the table in the AIA Singapore Premier League with victory over Geylang International FC when they visit the Our Tampines Hub in Singapore tonight.

Defending champions and second-placed Albirex Niigata (S) will not be in action this weekend and will only feature against the Brunei-based club on May 24.

The Gegar Gegar men moved eight points clear after their 2-0 home win against Home United at the start of the second round fixtures at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium during their previous league appearance.

But a 2-0 win for Albirex against DPMM FC’s future opponent a day later reduced the lead to six points, highlighting the interest of the White Swans in the title race.

The Brunei-based outfit, still undefeated this season, are on a purple patch highlighted by three of the players leading the goals, assists and clean sheets departments.

DPMM FC foreign import Andrei Varankou is enjoying a prolific run after bagging 12 goals to lead the scoring charts and also topped the list for assists with five. The Belarussian has developed good chemistry with local

forward Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman in attack.

Meanwhile, DPMM FC goalkeeper Wardun Yussof made five clean sheets in nine league appearances, helping the club to a league low in goals conceded with six so far this term.

The league leaders will be without the services of midfield maestro Azwan Ali Rahman who is serving a suspension following his dismissal in the game against the Protectors.

Geylang will be boosted by the return of Shawal Anuar, who came off the bench in their last league game for his first appearance of the season, having recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament tear injury last season.

However, Geylang head coach Mohd Noor Ali will miss key personnel with the quartet of Barry Maguire, Syahiran Miswan, Muhd Noor Ariff and Darren Teh suspended for the clash.

The Eagles are on the back of three consecutive defeats and currently lie seventh in the table, but could catapult to the top five if they walk away

with three points against Adrian Pennock’s men.

DPMM FC could extend their unbeaten run on the road to 10 games in the league this season if they register their eighth victory tonight.

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/dpmm-fc-look-to-go-nine-points-clear-in-singapore-league/

Robbie Servais new head coach of Brunei football team

by Fadhil Yunus

FORMER Singapore Under-19 head coach Robbie Servais has been appointed as the new national head coach of Brunei Darussalam football team on a short-term basis for six weeks.

Servais will take charge of the senior national team for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 two-legged match against Mongolia on June 6 and 11.

The national coach, from the Netherlands, will be introduced to the players where he will assess his options on selecting them for inclusion as part of his immediate tasks. The majority of players in the national pool list compete in the Brunei Super League.

The players will attend a training session next week with Servais and is also expected to visit DPMM FC games, where most of Brunei internationals currently play.

After the confirmation of a 23-man squad which is likely to be announced at the end of May, the national team will undergo a training camp in China where they will play one or two friendly matches against Chinese professional clubs.

“We go there not only to get used to the climate but also the opponents as well. Mongolian players are a little bit stronger than us so we need to have one or two games against similar teams,” said Servais in an interview with the media at NFABD House yesterday.

The Wasps will play Mongolia in an away leg in Ulaanbaatar in June 6 with the home leg taking place at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on June 11.

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/robbie-servais-new-head-coach-of-brunei-football-team/