Wijaya FC land Shahrazen

A BETTER finish is all Wijaya FC hope for in the upcoming 2010/11 DST Group Brunei Premier League I (BPL I) which kicks off on March 7.

Last season's dismal performance was one to forget for the club established in 1989.

They only managed to record four wins, two draws and 12 losses, from a total of 18 matches, to finish in eighth place, third from the bottom of the 10-team table.

Wijaya FC want a better finish and the club is going back to its roots to achieve it.

"The players are either family members or friends. Therefore, this club is formed from the solid foundation of trust," said head coach Hj Lukman Hj Adanan at Ong Sum Ping football field, the club's training ground.

However, familiarity does not automatically guarantee a spot in the first-eleven. There are standards to meet in the squad and Hj Lukman does not take this fact lightly.

"This way we can create a healthy competition within the club between the players," explained the head coach.

Most of the players have already been selected and it comes as no suprise that key players Shahroni Hj Bungsu, Sufri Yahya, Mahdini Hj Mohamad, Zulkefly Duraman and Jamrin Johari will return to the pitch.

"They are the experienced players that I hope will be able to guide the young and fresh-faced players," said Hj Lukman.

The squad had also been boosted by the arrival of ex-national Julremi Hj Zain, who laced up for Majra FC last season.

However, the biggest suprise was the inclusion of Shahrazen Hj Md Said in the line-up. The DPMM FC striker had just returned to the Sultanate last Thursday, after his stint in the India League (I-League) 2nd Division's side Sporting Clube de Goa did not work out.

On a quest to become the first Bruneian footballer to play abroad, the situation in Goa was not what Shahrazen had expected.

His agent had told him the club were already mid-way through their season and that he would be offered a contract immediately.

However when Shahrazen arrived, he found out the club were on a break until April when they would compete in a month-long tournament to fight for a place in the I-League 1st Division play-offs. He would also have to complete trials.

The striker boasts the reputation of finishing as joint top scorer during the 2006/2007 Malaysian Super League season with 21 goals while playing for DPMM FC.

Shahrazen also led DPMM FC in scoring during their debut S-League season in 2008/2009 by finding the back of the net nine times and was crucial to the team's Singapore League Cup championship run in 2009.

"We're lucky to have his services. I hope that he will be able to give his total commitment to the club," said Hj Lukman.

Despite the impressive line-up however, the Wijaya FC head coach is still approaching the upcoming season with caution.

"When speaking of being prepared, this changes with time according to certain conditions. For every team that we will face, we have to take a different approach. Other basic prerequisites such as stamina and physical tests we have definitely covered," he said.

Wijaya FC will have the opportunity to warm up their feet when they take on Setia Perdana, who are currently contesting in the play-off for a spot in the BPL II, in a friendly at the Berakas Sports Complex tonight.

The real test for their renewed vigour will come on March 7, when Wijaya FC take on AM Gunners FC in the first match of the 2010/11 BPL I at the same venue. Kick off is slated for 8.15pm.

The Brunei Times ..

Shahrazen apologises, may give India another go

HAVING had time to gather his thoughts, striker Shahrazen Hj Md Said realises he should have tried harder to make his trip to Goa, India, work out.

The 25-year-old hitman was to become the first local footballer to try his luck abroad when he left last Monday for a tryout with India League's (I-League) 2nd Division side Sporting Clube de Goa.

But a stressful journey to the coastal Indian State and the culture-shock that came from being in a new country for the first time saw the emotional striker return to Brunei after less than two days in India.

"I am sorry for what I said earlier (on Thursday). I didn't mean it," Shahrazen said, referring to comments he made in yesterday's edition of The Brunei Times.

"I was homesick as this was the first time in my football career that I had travelled alone without teammates around me," he said yesterday.

Shahrazen (pic) took nearly a day to reach Goa, travelling from Brunei to Bangkok and Mumbai before finally touching down at 6.50am in the coastal Indian State.

All is not lost though, and Shahrazen said he would be willing to give the western Indian State another chance.

"I may go back (to Goa) because the president of the club invited me to return after two weeks," he said.

"I also want to thank the club for inviting me to play there in the first place," he added.

In all fairness, the situation in Goa was not what Shahrazen had expected.

His agent had told him the club were already mid-way through their season and that he would be offered a contract immediately.

But when Shahrazen arrived he found out the club were on a break until April, when they would compete in a month-long tournament to fight for a place in the I-League 1st Division play-offs.

He would also have to complete trials.The Brunei Times

Shahrazen - 30 hours in Goa

Striker only lasted a day in India, will not play for Sporting Clube de Goa

SHAHRAZEN Hj Md Said's quest to become the first local footballer to play abroad came to a premature end when he returned home on Thursday.

The DPMM FC striker left Brunei to play in the India League (I-League) 2nd Division's side Sporting Clube de Goa on Monday but was only able to put up with the city for 30 hours.

"I touched down in Goa at 6.50am on Tuesday and I already had a bad feeling," he told The Brunei Times yesterday.

"The place looked like it just recovered from a war. It was dirty and it smelt of everything from the drain to the garbage to the soil.

"I flew in through Bangkok and Mumbai and I was 100 per cent committed all the way. But as soon as I reached Goa it went down to zero per cent.

"I got to the club's guest house and I was already thinking about how to get back. I already knew I didn't want to stay because my heart was not comfortable.

"Before that I was proud to become the first Bruneian to play overseas, but when I was there I didn't think about that at all," he sighed.

The 25-year-old hitman also said the situation in Goa was not what he had signed up for.

His Malaysian agent Hizo Hizwan had told him Sporting Clube de Goa were already mid-way through their season and he would be offered a contract straight away.

But when Shahrazen met with club officials on Tuesday night he found out that the team were on a break until April, when they would compete in a month-long tournament to fight for a place in the I-League 1st Division play-offs.

He would also have to go through trials, so he didn't have a job waiting for him after all as promised.

Despite trying their best to persuade him to stay until the end of the month at least, Sporting Clube de Goa's pleas fell on deaf ears.

"They understood I was not comfortable," explained Shahrazen.

"At first they wanted me to stay. They said I was stressed because it was my first time in India and they asked me to wait for 15 to 20 days and make my decision after that.

"But I was straight forward with them and told them I could not continue," stressed the Bruneian.

Shahrazen had by this time already talked to Hizo and asked him to book his return flight, but the agent also advised him to stick around in Goa for a while and slug it out.

The striker said that things only looked up for him when Hizo called at 3am on Wednesday to say that he had talked to the club officials and would try to get him a ticket back to Brunei.

Shahrazen went to his one and only training session on Wednesday morning and was out of Goa by 2.30pm the same day.

Though he admits he was less than happy with his agent, Shahrazen has no hard feelings.

"At first I was stressed and disappointed. I was also a bit angry at the agent but after he helped me get back it was alright," he said.

According to Shahrazen, Hizo had heard about him from his time in the Malaysian Super League (MSL) with DPMM FC when the striker finished joint top scorer during the 2006/2007 season with 21 goals.

Shahrazen also led DPMM FC in scoring during their debut S-League season in 2008/2009 by finding the back of the net nine times and was crucial to the team's Singapore League Cup championship run in 2009.

He had previously received offers to play in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia from other agents, but none were as concrete as India.

A store-keeper at the Department of Public Works (JKR), Shahrazen's leave which was to be until April 30 is now void and he will report back to work today.

Despite his first stint overseas leaving him with a bad taste in the mouth, Shahrazen said he was still eager to ply his trade abroad.

"The agent is now looking for clubs in Hong Kong and Singapore ... Basically places where the transfer window is still open," said Shahrazen.

"All in all I'm disappointed with what has happened.

"I still want to play abroad but I must do proper research first, I don't want it to be like this again." The Brunei Times

Shahrazen's passage to India

Brunei striker to play for India's Sporting Clube de Goa.

SHAHRAZEN Hj Md Said will become the first local footballer to ply his trade abroad when he leaves to join India's Sporting Clube de Goa today.

No stranger to creating history, the prolific striker has finally decided to test foreign shores after famously spurning various clubs in the region since DPMM FC's campaign in the Singapore League (S-League) came to a close in October 2009.

Handed a three-month contract by the India League's (I-League) Second Division side mid-way through their season, the 25-year-old Bruneian has been tasked with helping the team earn promotion back to the top flight.

"If they think I'm good they will give me a contract for the next season," he told The Brunei Times on Friday.

"The club used to be in the First Division and they're looking for a striker to help them get back (to the top flight). I won't have to go through any trials or anything I'm going to play straight away.

"It's my first time going to India so I'm excited and nervous. I'm also scared since I don't know much about the environment in Goa and the club.

"I don't even know the language. If they speak English it's alright, but what if they don't?

"I can't say how long it will take for me to adjust, but all I can say is that I want to try fit in as soon as possible. I think fitness shouldn't be a problem. I'm 90 per cent fit since DPMM FC haven't stopped training as a club.

"I'm proud that I have become the first Bruneian to play abroad but I ask myself if I will be able to compete with the Indians or not ...

"The next three months will be important," he stressed.

Finishing joint top scorer during the 2006/07 Malaysian Super League (MSL) season with 21 goals, Shahrazen also led DPMM FC in scoring during their debut S-League season in 2008/09 by bulging the net nine times.

Brunei's only professional club, DPMM FC became the first foreign team to win the Singapore League Cup in June 2009 and Shahrazen said that capturing the trophy and being named the MSL joint top scorer ranked as his most memorable moments in the sport.

The hitman has been courted by Malaysian giants Selangor and Pahang in the past, with Indonesian Super League side Persiba Balikpapan and Singapore League outfit Balestier Khalsa FC also having expressed interest in his services.

However, he denied them all, saying that the time was not right.

Though he might not know much about his new club at least he can get some pointers about the league and country from Keita Mandjou, the Guinean who tied Shahrazen in scoring during the 2006/07 MSL season and who is currently at I-League's First Division side Pune FC.

Created in the mould of Portuguese side Sporting Clube de Portugal or more commonly known as Sporting Lisbon Sporting Clube de Goa were formed in 1999.

Making their debut in the Indian National Football League Premier Division the predecessor of the I-League during the 2003/04 season, Sporting Clube de Goa have enjoyed some success in the First Division where they finished ahead of more established clubs in the country.

Shahrazen said he heard the club were looking for a striker to revive their fortunes through a Malaysian agent early last week.

Though the club have not seen Shahrazen in action, his resume impressed them enough to sign him.

Obstacles such as getting an international transfer certificate (ITC), a visa and leave from his employers he works as a storekeeper at the Department of Public Works (JKR) sorted themselves out as the week progressed.

"At first I thought I couldn't go because Brunei doesn't have a football association which is recognised internationally so it would be hard for me to get an ITC," said the hitman, referring to the document which enables a player to transfer from one club to another.

"I thought that since there was no umbrella body for Bruneian footballers I couldn't play abroad, but the agent took care of everything and I got the ITC direct from Fifa.

"DPMM FC, the Department of Youth and Sports and the JKR have been with me all the way. So I would like to thank the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as well as the Ministry of Development and the Department of Civil Services for making this work out.

"Most importantly, my family has been really, really supportive especially my wife who is expecting our third child. My leave is until April 30 so I should be back before my wife is due."

Whether Shahrazen makes his mark in Goa or if his contract will be extended is for anyone to guess. But one thing is for sure his potential will never be fully realised if he stays in Brunei and hopefully his move will be the spark that local footballers need to test their luck abroad.The Brunei Times

Brunei Times

Shahrazen happy to stay put

SHAHRAZEN MD SAID is always ready to put his scoring boots back on, provided the ban passed by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) on the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (Bafa) is lifted.

DPMM FC have been offered an opportunity to compete in the upcoming season of the Singapore League (S-League) by Football Association of Singapore (FAS).

The new S-League season starts next month.

Pg Hj Muhd Waslimin PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin, the DPMM FC manager, told The Brunei Times on Saturday that the Brunei side had received an offer to compete in the S-League in the upcoming season.

"The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has offered us another chance of playing in the Singapore League (S-League) in the upcoming season," he had said.

However, the invite depends on whether the authorities can reinstate Bafa by the Jan 7 (Thursday) deadline set by the FAS.

Shahrazen, DPMM FC's top scorer in their debut season in the S-League with nine goals, admitted that the chance for Bafa to be reinstated in time looked very bleak.

"We have been training hard for the past two weeks but it looks like today (Monday) could be the last training session we'll have.

"We will have to wait till Thursday to know the outcome, but the chance (of us playing in the S-League) is slim as the issue isn't resolved yet." said Shahrazen.

DPMM FC were dropped from the S-League due to a global suspension by Fifa on Bafa, which meant that all Brunei clubs and teams could no longer play international football.

Since then, Shahrazen had called time off on football despite receiving several offers from various clubs local and abroad.

"I have had lots of offers from interested clubs, recently from Balestier Khalsa FC of Singapore."

Balestier are one of the clubs that are going to compete in the 2010/11 S-League season.

"But I feel like I'm not ready to respond to them. There are lots of things that I have to think about like work and especially family.

"I have also yet to sort out the minor details like accommodation. These are things to consider before moving overseas," he added.

If things fail to work out, either with DPMM FC or other foreign clubs, he might play in the DSTGroup Brunei Premier League I (BPL I) for his old side, AH United.

"If the issue isn't resolved, I'll probably play for my old club AH United, even though I have had offers from other BPL I teams."

Though the player has taken time off from professional football, he has not completely dropped off the football grid.

"I have been making myself busy playing in some futsal tournaments and some friendlies."

Asked who his idols are in football, Shahrazen said: "I have always been a Manchester United fan. It has changed with time; it used to be David Beckham, then Cristiano Ronaldo and currently it's Wayne Rooney."

If Shahrazen continues to play and develop, he could be Brunei's own Rooney.

He won Bruneians' hearts when he finished the 2006/2007 Malaysian Super League (MSL) season as the top scorer, tied with Perak's Keita Mandjou on 21 goals.

The striker believed that was one of the best moments in his professional career besides winning the Singapore League Cup in June last year.

The Brunei Times

Shahrazen needs a rest from football

SHAHRAZEN Hj Md Said has turned down an offer from Indonesia Super League side Persiba Balikpapan.

The DPMM FC striker said he refused since he felt he was not ready for a move and was looking to take some time off football.

"I need a rest. I did not think I was ready since it has just been a month since DPMM FC were told that they cannot play in the Singapore League (S-League)," said Shahrazen when met by The Brunei Times yesterday.

"An agent in Singapore told me Persiba were interested last month. They offered me US$3000 but I am not sure about the other terms of the contract such as accommodation and things like that. In terms of experience and exposure, I am definitely ready for the move .

"I thought it over for a week and then I said no. I don't know if I will regret it or not, that is a question that I cannot answer now," added the 24-year-old who has been courted by Malaysian giants Selangor and Pahang in the past.

He added that DPMM FC goalkeeper Wardun Yussof and midfielder Azwan Salleh were also offered a move to Persiba but both refused.

Shahrazen said he also refused offers from local teams such as Majra FC and his former team, AH United, to play with them.

When quizzed further as to why he has not moved to greener pastures, it seemed that the hitman had other concerns at heart.

"Malaysian teams have approached me when DPMM FC were still in the Malaysian League, but I just didn't want to move because my fans might think of me as a traitor," he said with a smile.

DPMM FC's top scorer in their debut Singapore League (S-League) campaign with nine goals, he won Bruneians' hearts when he finished the 2006/2007 Malaysian Super League (MSL) season as the league's top scorer, tied with Perak's Keita Mandjou on 21 goals.

But Brunei's only professional club are now without a league to call their own after the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) disallowed them to continue playing in the S-League last month.

The reigning Singapore League Cup champions, DPMM FC were left high and dry because of the Fifa's decision to suspend the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (Bafa) during its Executive Committee meeting on Sept 27, a ruling which meant that all Brunei clubs and teams could no longer play international football.

Many of DPMM FC players are now playing with DSTGroup Brunei Premier League I and II sides - but with the understanding that they will return if the ban is lifted.

"If DPMM FC cannot play again next year, then I might think about moving," said Shahrazen. "It is a shame though since I think we should have been allowed to finish the S-League season. I think it hurt the club's reputation, and for the players, it was a lot of hard work wasted. I hope that the authorities can resolve the matter soon so we can re-join the league next season."

Brunei Times