BPL I teams back at war

WHILE local football fans await the fate of DPMM FC, they at least have other teams to cheer on.

The DSTGroup Brunei Premier League I (BPL I) will continue next week with all 10 teams seeing action on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Second-placed AM Gunners will go up against Wijaya FC at the Berakas Sports Complex on Tuesday while Jerudong FC will take on AH United at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas at the same time.

The league's newcomers, who now have 28 points, are on a high coming off a 4-1 victory over Majra FC on Dec 21 while Wijaya FC are looking to bounce back having lost 1-0 to league leaders QAF FC on Dec 22.

Meanwhile, Jerudong FC, currently in fourth place with 21 points, are coming off a 1-1 draw against MS ABDB. They will face a difficult test against AH United, who are in good form having recorded comfortable wins in their last two matches, a 4-2 victory against Brunei Shell FT and 4-1 win against NBT FC.

On Wednesday, fans will have a selection of three matches to catch to satisfy their football hunger.

Defending champions and league leaders, QAF FC, who are four points clear at the top of the table, will go head to head against one of the basement dwellers, Brunei Shell FT, at the Berakas Sports Complex.

With only six games left in the BPL I, QAF FC are dreaming of a hat-trick of championships as they lead the table with 32 points after 12 matches.

Having had difficulty finding the back of the net lately, the league leaders would have to be more clinical if they want to lift the trophy for the third straight time this season.

The Royal Brunei Armed Forces' Sports Council (MS ABDB), currently in third, will take on Indera FC at the Penanjong Camp in Tutong while Majra FC and NBT FC will face off at the Balapan Track and Field.

QAF FC's arch-rivals, MS ABDB, are not in great form either. The army men tasted their first defeat of the season, a 2-1 loss to AM Gunners, on Dec 14 and followed that up with a 1-1 draw with Jerudong FC in their last game on Dec 22.

NBT FC, who are tied at the bottom of the BPL I table with Brunei Shell FT with five points, would need a victory against their opponents to have any chance of survival in the top flight.

Majra FC are also looking to bounce back after their loss to AM Gunners.

All matches will kick off at 8.15pm.The Brunei Times