DPMM FC back in training

by Fadhil Yunus

DPMM FC players have reported back for pre-season training with a mix of local and foreign individuals looking to impress in the ongoing trials at the Jerudong Park Mini Stadium.

Assisted by his trusted lieutenants including Assistant Coach Moksen Mohammad, Adrian Pennock, who will enter a second season at the club, took charge of training.

Around 30 players are currently on a two-week long trial with at least four new foreign players currently training with the team.

The foreign players will be battling for the remaining spot in the foreign import quota vacated by Blake Ricciuto with Charlie Clough and Andrei Varankou set to return this year.

Among those on trial were under-23 players, under-19 players and players from the national youth teams as they look to make the same impact of young starlet Hakeme Yazid bin Said, who announced his arrival to the first team line-up last season with a debut goal.

The Singapore Premier League champions have also acquired the services of fitness coach Jason Moriarty, who worked for EFL League One side AFC Wimbledon for 11 years.

The Gegar Gegar men reported back for club duty last Saturday for weight, yo-yo and fats tests before they attended three sessions the following Monday where they went hiking at Tasek Lama, swimming and ball work during the afternoon.

In addition, training also incorporated gym work as the players look to stay in shape following a break last year after the end of the season. Since then, the players, the majority of whom tasted triumph in the league, have attended two or three sessions per day as they gear up for the upcoming season.

Hiking and swimming were introduced as part of the DPMM FC’s training routine last season which were crucial to their title-defining success.

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/dpmm-fc-back-training/

Indera SC to represent the country will be playing against Yangon United FC from Myanmar in AFC Cup 2020, qualifying round 1

Brunei Darussalam is returning to the AFC competition through the AFC Cup 2020, qualifying round 1.

Indera SC, as the only club licensed under AFC Club License and Merit to represent the country, will be playing against Yangon United FC from Myanmar during the qualifying round 1.

Indera SC will host Yangon United FC at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on Wednesday, 22 January 2020 and the return leg in Myanmar will be on Wednesday, 29 January 2020. Full Draw Ceremony for the AFC Cup 2020 will be done in AFC House, Kuala Lumpur on 9 December 2019.

Mohammad Shahnon Haji Mohd. Salleh, the current Acting General Secretary has stated that NFABD will fully cooperate and assist Indera SC during their preparation and participation in the AFC Cup 2020 as the club will be the flag bearer for Brunei Darussalam during this competition. He also hopes that the football enthusiasts in Brunei Darussalam will come in full force to support Indera SC and enliven the football match.

Rosdin Hj Abd Aziz as the General Manager for Indera SC said, “With gratitude and happiness, Indera SC has finally managed to acquire the AFC CUP 2020 license after all the hardwork and sacrifices by the Indera SC management team and all those involved since CLS was introduced back in October 2018. We will not have achieved this without assistance from NFABD. This is our first chronicle for Indera SC since its involvement in the football arena and that feat was a golden opportunity for the club to move forward to a higher level. Indera SC promised that it will give its best in the AFC CUP which will be contested reciprocally. Indera SC realised that our opponent Yangon United is not just any random team because they have been in the championship longer and are more experienced. That is why Indera SC need the total support from its fan and all football enthusiasts in Brunei Darussalam throughout their journey.”

http://www.nfabd.org/press-release/2019120601.htm

Three major football leagues next year

by James Kon

The National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) will organise three major football leagues next year in its effort to raise the standard of football in Brunei.

The leagues are National League, Youth League and Futsal League. Following this, players competing in the Futsal League are not allowed to compete in the National League and vice versa.

This was announced by the recently elected President of NFABD Pengiran Haji Matusin bin Pengiran Haji Matasan at a Muzakarah session with NFABD at the NFABD House yesterday.

He also urged NFABD members and local football clubs to work together for next year’s preparation and planning.

“With the aspiration to improve the level of Brunei football in the national and international stages, we will face many challenges and we can overcome them by working together. The development of football does not only rely on NFABD but also involves the cooperation of the association’s members including the involvement of local football teams,” he said.

“This will improve the level of football in the country while the image of the country will better in the international stage.”

Some 60 representatives from local football clubs attended the session.

The NFABD President added, “Many wonder why our national squad’s performance in the SEA Games recently was very disappointing. I feel that this can be a launching pad for us to compare where we have failed and improve our performance for the future.

“Steps must be taken so that our preparation can be implemented smoothly.

“The association will assist in terms of management and coaching among others. The management and administration of each football club must utilise systematic training to improve the standard of clubs, coaching and skills as well as others.”

Local football clubs, associations and referee associations in Brunei Darussalam are advised to start preparations early. “We want the standard of our league to be respectable,” he added.

Haji Matusin also added that the National League should have at least 16 teams, in line with the aspirations of the football’s world governing body FIFA, the Asian Football Federation (AFF) and the ASEAN Football Confederation (AFC).

Meanwhile, he also revealed that NFABD is in the early stage of negotiation with sponsors to support the leagues.

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/three-major-football-leagues-next-year/

Brunei lose 7-0 to Singapore

By Fadhil Yunus in Manila, the Philippines

Brunei Darussalam’s under-22 football team ended their campaign at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games without registering a single goal after a disappointing 7-0 defeat to Singapore at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila yesterday.

The Young Wasps have previously drawn blanks in all their group games against Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.

Brunei were put on the backfoot in the opening periods of the match as Singapore came out all guns blazing with the first goal arriving via a set-piece just three minutes after captain Irfan Fandi came uncontested at the far post to head home Hami Syahin’s pinpoint cross.

Singapore young striker Ikhsan Fandi, who is already capped at senior level, reminded the Brunei defence off his talents with his utilisation of space before getting his shot across but which sliced wide. Nevertheless, his attempt was a strong indication of the Singapore attacking onslaught.

With the Singapore side determined to end their campaign with a win, Jacob Mahler saw his towering header clear the bar after connecting a cross from a teammate.

The offensive threat was a relentless one as Ryhan Stewart gave the Bruneian defence a chase on the flanks before cutting back for Faris Ramli but his effort skewed wide.

Hami Syahin blasted an effort wide after a loose ball fell before Faris Ramli skied his effort wide again.

Faris gave the keys to Haiqal Pashia with a neat pass but the latter’s effort took a deflection for a corner.

The Singaporeans marginally missed the target as Faris saw his shot brush against the post.

Brunei already have a history of being left shorthanded in this year’s meet and they went a man down again after Hanif Azman was dismissed for a second offence.

It took the 67th minute for Singapore to add to their account as Ikhsan placed a shot past the Brunei goalkeeper Ishyra Asmin bin Jabidi with precision.

Singapore’s Saifullah Akbar joined in the act with an expert finish in the 72nd minute before Faris netted a quick-fire double in a space of five minutes.

The Young Lions, who were in a similar position with Brunei prior to their final group game, rained goals as Ikhsan was on the double after completing a string of passes.

Ikhsan completed his hat-trick with a cool finish in the dying seconds of the game to compound the misery of the Brunei team.

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-lose-7-0-singapore/

NFABD holds Doa Selamat for SEA Games-bound Brunei team

Fadhil Yunus

The National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) held a Doa Selamat for the Brunei Darussalam under-22 team who will be competing in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila, Philippines later this month.

President of NFABD Pengiran Haji Matusin bin Pengiran Haji Matasan was present at the religious event at NFABD House.

The event began with mass Maghrib prayer followed by Sunnat Hajat prayer, Surah Yaasiin, Tahlil, Dikir and Doa Selamat. The religious event continued with mass Isyak prayer.

The reading of Surah Yaasiin was led by Muinuddin bin Mohammad Zain.

The Brunei team will be leaving for Manila to take part in the men’s football event where they have been drawn in a tough group alongside defending champions Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Laos.

The Young Wasps have got a boost with the arrival of Faiq Jefri Bolkiah from Leicester City recently. DPMM FC star Adi Said will link up with the squad as one of two permissible overaged players. Nur Ikhmal Damit is the other overaged player.

DPMM FC rising star Hakeme Yazid Said has been called up to the squad as well as Hanif Aiman Adanan and Hafiz Suhardi.

Brunei will begin their campaign against Vietnam in Imus on November 25.

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/nfabd-holds-doa-selamat-sea-games-bound-brunei-team/

Malaysia trounce Brunei 11-0 in AFC Under-19 qualifiers

by Fadhil Yunus

Brunei Darussalam’s under-19 team were on the receiving end of a drubbing for a second consecutive match when they were mauled 11-0 by Malaysia in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-19 Championship Qualifiers 2020 at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Wednesday night.

The Young Wasps were heavily beaten 9-0 by Thailand in their second Group ‘G’ tie, having opened their campaign with a 4-3 win against Northern Mariana Islands.

The result equalled their biggest defeat in the qualifying competition at the age group when they succumbed to an identical 11-0 loss to Asian powerhouse South Korea at the Paju Public Stadium in 2017.

Malaysia rising star Luqman Hakim bin Shamsudin, who will ink a five-year deal with Belgian side K V Kortrijk when he turns 18 next March, completed a hat-trick in a space of three minutes before adding a fourth four minutes before the break.

With a Bruneian opponent unable to close him down in time, Malaysia’s under-19 defender Muhammad Azrin Afiq bin Rusmini belted a screamer from distance to open the floodgates in the 17th minute.

The Young Tigers, who are Thailand’s closest rivals, were awarded a penalty after Brunei’s Mohd Hadif Aiman bin Haji Adanan appeared to have tripped forward Muhammad Muslihuddin Atiq bin Mat Zaid.

Brunei’s goalkeeper Abdul Taufik bin Talip guessed the right way but there was no chance to keep out Luqman Hakim bin Shamsudin who struck his penalty with venom.

Luqman Hakim did not take long to grab the second as he rifled home from the edge of the box. The hat-trick happened in a flash as he steered the ball into the empty net after the Brunei goalkeeper left his lines.

Brunei’s Abdul Taufik could only parry away an initial shot from Muhammad Shafi Azswad bin Sapari into the path of Muhammad Azam bin Azmi Murad who had the simplest of tasks of guiding the ball home from close range.

Brunei had their best chance of the game to pull one back when Md Aisan Aizuddin bin Abdullah Md Aiman sliced his effort wide after collecting the ball from a teammate’s flicked header.

Malaysia substitute Mohd Aiman Afif bin Md Afizul added his name in the score-sheet after finding the bottom corner following good work from Muhammad Umar Hakeem bin Suhar Redzuan.

The young Brunei side conceded a seventh in the first half when Luqman Hakim freed himself from the defence and drilled a fine finish past the hapless Abdul Taufik.

Malaysia were awarded a second penalty of the match after Brunei defender Mohammad Nazry Aiman bin Azaman was adjudged to have brought down the excellent Luqman Hakim.

Penalty duties fell to Harith Haiqal bin Adam Afkar who made no mistake from the spot.

To add salt to Brunei’s wounds, Muhammad Azam bagged a brace in the hour mark as he easily slotted the ball home into the gaping goalmouth with no Brunei defender in sight.

Joining the act, Malaysia’s substitute Muhammad Hazim bin Abu Zaid skipped past his marker but his shot hit the goalkeeper’s leg and out for a corner.

Aiman Afif connected from a teammate’s cross for his second of the game as his country hit double digits before the Kedah star wrapped up the goal frenzy with a hat-trick in injury time.

The Young Wasps will be hoping to sign out on a high when they conclude their campaign against hosts Cambodia this Sunday.

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/malaysia-trounce-brunei-11-0-afc-19-qualifiers/

DPMM chasing the double

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (19 Oct 2019) – With the Singapore Premier League 2019 title already in the bag, DPMM FC will be out to chase down the double in the Singapore Cup.

“We are really looking forward to it. We had a great two or three weeks celebrating. Everybody connected with DPMM FC should be celebrating because what everybody has done this season has been fantastic,” said Pennock.

“But now, we got to put our business and professional head on and it will be lovely to do the double because it is our aim. We already played one game which was a little bit unfortunate for us because I do believe we could have beaten Geylang.”

After two matches in Group B of the Singapore Cup, the Brunei side has drawn 1-1 with Geylang International before picking up their first full points with a 1-0 win over Hougang United earlier this evening.

The only goal of the game came off Andrey Varankov in the 80th minute at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

DPMM currently lead the standings with four points and where they will complete their Group B fixtures with a match against Albirex Niigata on 12 October 2019 at the Jurong East Stadium.

“The boys worked hard obviously with their fitness levels so we just got to copy exactly the same what we have been doing all season,” he added.

“If we win the cup, it will be the icing on the cake.”

https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/dpmm-chasing-the-double/