Thursday, February 26, 2015
DPMM FC are in fine form ahead of their season-opening Singapore League (S-League) game against Harimau Muda (Malaysian national Under-22 team) on Sunday.
Brunei’s only professional football club gathered at the Jerudong Mini Stadium yesterday for their team photo for the 2015 season with His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and DPMM FC chairman.
Speaking to The Brunei Times after the photo op, DPMM FC team manager Ali Hj Momin said he hopes the club can improve on their performance last season when they finished as S-League runners-up, Singapore League Cup champions and claimed third in the Singapore Cup.
“Our target is to become the S-League and Singapore Cup champions as we have never won those titles before,” said Ali in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.
The club have signed three new foreign players this season; English forward Craig Fagan, Northern Ireland defender Brian McLean and Brazilian striker Rafael Ramazotti.
They join Irish midfielder Joe Gamble and Bosnian defender Boris Raspudic as the team's five imports for the new S-League season. When asked about the new import players, Ali replied: “We will have to see in their first match this Sunday.
“It is different to play in a competitive match (compared to) normal friendly matches. Due to their height advantage, I feel that the import players can help us to score and defend set pieces.
“Last season we conceded many goals from set pieces due to our players’ height,” added the manager.
Striker Shahrazen Said echoed his manager’s comments, saying that he hopes the club can top the S-League, retain the League Cup and make the Singapore Cup final.
“As a striker my job is to score for my team. I also have a target of how many goals I want to score, but it depends on the number of matches I play,” he said.
“About the new import players, I can see there is a quality that Rafael and Fagan can give to our attack. Rafael has his height advantage while Fagan has experience playing in the English Premier League,” answered the striker when asked about new import players.
Commenting on the new local young players, Shahrazen said: “I’m surprised they have quickly adapt to our playing style as our previous players needed longer time. I believe one or two of them can play in the first-11 this season.” Shahrazen’s younger brother, Adi, also shared his brother’s hopes.
“My target for this season is the same as Shahrazen, but I really hope that we don’t repeat last season’s S-League performance where we lost the league title at the very last match,” said the striker.
“I do not set any scoring targets but I hope that I will be given trust to play more games this season,” he answered when asked about his goal scoring target this season.
Adi also hoped that the import players can help the local players and lead the club to more success this season.
Md Suhandi Hj Awang Mahali, who joins as a new goalkeeper, is hoping that he can improve his performance.
“I hope that I can improve and give healthy competition to the other goalkeepers,” said the goalkeeper who played for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) for seven years.
When asked about Steve Kean’s training regime, he replied: “It is hard compared to my training at MS ABDB, but I’m okay with it.”
The match against Harimau Muda is set for 8.15pm at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
They then face Albirex Niigata FC (S) at the Jurong East Stadium in Singapore on March 7 and Young Lions (Singaporean national Under-23 team) at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on March 11.
The Brunei Times
Brunei’s only professional football club gathered at the Jerudong Mini Stadium yesterday for their team photo for the 2015 season with His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and DPMM FC chairman.
Speaking to The Brunei Times after the photo op, DPMM FC team manager Ali Hj Momin said he hopes the club can improve on their performance last season when they finished as S-League runners-up, Singapore League Cup champions and claimed third in the Singapore Cup.
“Our target is to become the S-League and Singapore Cup champions as we have never won those titles before,” said Ali in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.
The club have signed three new foreign players this season; English forward Craig Fagan, Northern Ireland defender Brian McLean and Brazilian striker Rafael Ramazotti.
They join Irish midfielder Joe Gamble and Bosnian defender Boris Raspudic as the team's five imports for the new S-League season. When asked about the new import players, Ali replied: “We will have to see in their first match this Sunday.
“It is different to play in a competitive match (compared to) normal friendly matches. Due to their height advantage, I feel that the import players can help us to score and defend set pieces.
“Last season we conceded many goals from set pieces due to our players’ height,” added the manager.
Striker Shahrazen Said echoed his manager’s comments, saying that he hopes the club can top the S-League, retain the League Cup and make the Singapore Cup final.
“As a striker my job is to score for my team. I also have a target of how many goals I want to score, but it depends on the number of matches I play,” he said.
“About the new import players, I can see there is a quality that Rafael and Fagan can give to our attack. Rafael has his height advantage while Fagan has experience playing in the English Premier League,” answered the striker when asked about new import players.
Commenting on the new local young players, Shahrazen said: “I’m surprised they have quickly adapt to our playing style as our previous players needed longer time. I believe one or two of them can play in the first-11 this season.” Shahrazen’s younger brother, Adi, also shared his brother’s hopes.
“My target for this season is the same as Shahrazen, but I really hope that we don’t repeat last season’s S-League performance where we lost the league title at the very last match,” said the striker.
“I do not set any scoring targets but I hope that I will be given trust to play more games this season,” he answered when asked about his goal scoring target this season.
Adi also hoped that the import players can help the local players and lead the club to more success this season.
Md Suhandi Hj Awang Mahali, who joins as a new goalkeeper, is hoping that he can improve his performance.
“I hope that I can improve and give healthy competition to the other goalkeepers,” said the goalkeeper who played for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) for seven years.
When asked about Steve Kean’s training regime, he replied: “It is hard compared to my training at MS ABDB, but I’m okay with it.”
The match against Harimau Muda is set for 8.15pm at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
They then face Albirex Niigata FC (S) at the Jurong East Stadium in Singapore on March 7 and Young Lions (Singaporean national Under-23 team) at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on March 11.
The Brunei Times
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