Singapore Cup Preview: History-seekers DPMM out to ruin perfect Albirex

SINGAPORE, 4 OCT 2018 – Albirex Niigata FC (S) are looking for an unprecedented fourth straight RHB Singapore Cup triumph when they take on Brunei DPMM FC on Saturday evening at Jalan Besar Stadium.

BACKGROUND The White Swans have won the Cup three times in a row and look set to retain the title, especially after going through the entire season unbeaten in all competitions.

However, DPMM Head Coach Rene Weber is calling on his squad to create history themselves by winning their first Singapore Cup.

“The opponents haven’t lost any games; they are three-time champions of the Cup but this is football, anything can happen,” Weber said.

“We can respect the opponents but that means we have to play harder than them — that’s respect.”

At the other camp, Albirex Head Coach Kazuaki Yoshinaga is refusing to take anything for granted despite his side’s unblemished record, noting that their opponents are enjoying a good run of form.

“We do not think of any past records,” he said. “For us, what we achieved in the past remains in the past. Our players and ourselves will give our best.

“DPMM have been unbeaten for ten games and Rene Weber is a very good coach for DPMM. He has helped to improve a lot of players there but we will prepare well and try to win.”

TEAM NEWSDPMM will have a largely full squad to choose from. Albirex will miss Taku Morinaga due to suspension, while Shuhei Hoshino is available for selection after returning from injury.

FORM GUIDE
Albirex: WWWDW
DPMM: WWWDD

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
07/08/18: DPMM 1-3 Albirex – Singapore Premier League
03/06/18: Albirex 5-0 DPMM – Singapore Premier League
14/04/18: Albirex 2-0 DPMM – Singapore Premier League
16/09/17: DPMM 0-1 Albirex – Singapore Premier League
16/06/17: Albirex 4-0 DPMM – Singapore Premier League

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR
Shuhei Hoshino – Albirex
With second top-scorer Morinaga out, club top scorer Hoshino is expected to return to the line-up. The striker will be looking for that one goal to take his overall tally to 20.

Shah Razen Said – DPMM
Leading by example from the front is Shah Razen Said. He may not have scored as many goals as he would have liked this season, but he is still a threat with his masterful dribbling and direct runs.

WHAT ELSE THEY SAID
Albirex head coach Yoshinaga: “Our players showed their mental strength and other strengths to win their last game, we have one more game and we want the players to give their best and win the final.

“Although there are no local clubs in the final, but we always considered ourselves a local club and we have a lot of Singaporean supporters. We will fight hard for the supporters to win the final.”

DPMM head coach Rene Weber: “We hope to win the final and write our history into the books.

“Three days to recover before a match is tough, but it is tough for Albirex too. We must believe in more of our ability, and I hope to see that on Saturday.

“We want to forget about the last game. It’s not impossible for us to win on Saturday.”

Get your tickets for the game at fas.org.sg/tickets and watch Albirex clash with DPMM atfas.org.sg/live2!

http://www.fas.org.sg/competitions/singapore-cup-preview-history-seekers-dpmm-out-ruin-perfect-albirex/