DPMM FC in the driver’s seat

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

DPMM FC took charge of their Singapore Cup quarter-final against Tampines Rover FC with a 3-1 win at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night.
A goal each from Brian McLean, Azwan Ali Rahman and Rafael Ramazotti handed the Sultanate’s only professional football club a comfortable two-goal cushion heading into the second leg at the Jurong West Stadium in Singapore on Thursday.
DPMM FC produced their best finish in the competition after edging Tampines 2-1 in the third-place playoff last season to record their first ever win against the Stags in eight meetings dating back to 2012.
According to the Singapore League’s (S-League) twitter feed, DPMM FC got off to a perfect start by finding the net in the fourth minute when McLean rose above everyone to head home Azwan Ali’s free-kick.
Tampines striker – and former DPMM FC player – Rodrigo Tosi replied almost immediately in the seventh minute when he was given plenty of space to make a run into the penalty box, but the Brazilian got his shot blocked by a DPMM FC defender.
Both teams were pressing for early goals and DPMM FC found the net again in the 12th minute through Azwan Ali, but Tampines were quick to respond with a goal from Pedrag Pocuca four minutes later.
The game settled in after the goals, with Tosi firing wide from outside the penalty box in the 35th minute for the only other real chance of the half.
The second half progressed in much the same vein as the first, with DPMM FC finding the net early in the half through striker Ramazotti with a bullet header in 48th minute.
Veteran striker Noh Alam Shah came on for Mateo Roskam in the 57th minute as the Stags were looking to strengthen their attack.
DPMM FC goalkeeper Wardun Yussof had a brilliant night and pulled off a top class save to tip away Roberto Alviz’s free-kick in the 61st minute, and the DPMM FC custodian was called into action again just a few minutes later to deny Isa Halim’s powerful shot from 30 metres out.
Tampines were desperate to get back into the game and Alviz – who like Tosi, was released by DPMM FC at the end of last season – was red carded for trying to hurry and drag the DPMM FC’s injured player off the pitch late in the game.
DPMM FC and Tampines last faced each other in a S-League tie on Aug 1 which ended 1-1 at the Jurong West Stadium.
Warriors FC will go up against 2013 Cup winners Home United at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium tomorrow and Geylang will face Global FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Albirex Niigata FC (S) will play defending champions Balestier Khalsa at the Jurong East Stadium on Friday.

The Brunei Times

Brunei set to host Under-14 Regional Festival of Football

Azri Metussin

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, August 8, 2015

THE National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam is set to host the first Asian Federation Football (AFC) Under-14 Regional Festival of Football on August 18.

Apart from hosts Brunei, eight other countries will be competing in the five-day event; Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

Sanctioned by AFC, the event will offer certificates of participation and medals to all players that will participate in the football festival held at both the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports and the Berakas Sports Complex.

The event was announced during a press conference at National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam’s (NFABD) headquarters at Jalan Pusat Persidangan yesterday, and the event’s chairman Muhammad Radzuan Hj Madali explained why the association is playing host to the event.

“AFC president Shaikh Salman Ebrahim El Khalifa wants to support Brunei’s football in developing the game and have Brunei competing in the Asian region,” he said.

“So Brunei is given the opportunity to host an AFC event and we are keen to organise the event.

“The festival will provide an opportunity for the young players to get further experience, and this event will focus on development rather than on competition and winning as no points will be awarded.

“All the countries will send their national teams, so this is an indicator for these young players to test themselves on the international stage,” added the event chairman yesterday.

Among the festival’s purposes are to provide a continuous player development pathway from the grassroots at the school level to the elite level and ensure a smooth transition for elite players to the national team.

The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and other related government agencies.

Admission is free and a lucky draw will be held during the event.

The Brunei Times 

Stalemate as DPMM FC held by Tampines Rovers FC

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, August 2, 2015

DPMM FC's winless streak in the Singapore League (S-league) stretched to five games after a 1-1 draw against Tampines Rovers FC last night.
It was the fourth straight stalemate for the Brunei side in 11 days , the result moving them up to second in the table with 23 points but on better goal difference against Albirex Niigata (S) FC.
According to the S-league Twitter updates, DPMM FC got off to the best of starts with Rafael Ramazotti winning a header for Paulo Sergio before the latter threaded a pass to Shahrazen Said to score in the sixth minute at the Jurong West Stadium in Singapore.
It was the first goal that Tampines have conceded in four matches.
Tampines were awarded a penalty in the 10th minute after Firdaus Idros was tripped in the box by Aminuddin Zakwan Tahir. The Stags skipper Fahrudin Mustafic stepped up to take the spotkick but his attempt was saved by DPMM FC goalkeeper Wardun Yussof.
Sergio caught everyone off guard with a chip on a freekick from the edge of the box in the 26th minute but his effort went just wide of the post.
DPMM FC got an opportunity to double the lead in the 42nd minute with Azwan Ali Rahman chipping the ball to Shahrazen but the forward's attempt went inches wide.
The visitors got another chance five minutes into the second half after Shahrazen put the ball into the box but Ramazotti couldn't place his header on target. At the other end, Roberto Alviz sent Firdaus racing into the box but the latter's cross shot attempt shaved the post before going out.
The Stags equalised in the 54th minute with Ridhuan Muhamad making a good run down the right before setting up Mateo Roskam for the easy tap in. It is the fifth goal in four games for the Croatian.
The striker came close to grabbing the lead for the Stags in the 66th minute but put his header over the bar.
DPMM FC went on the counterattack two minutes later with Azwan Ali squaring up Shahrazen but the Tampines custodian Rodrigo Pacheco produced a good save.
Roskam got another shot on target in the 74th minute but was parried away by Wardun. The Brunei side got another chance after Ramazotti sent Shahrazen through in the 85th minute but Pacheco denied the Bruneian at the near post.
The hosts almost stole the match in the 89th minute but Rodrigo Tosi put his header at the wrong side of the post to see both teams claim a point out of the meeting.
DPMM FC will continue their campaign against Geylang International FC at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on Wednesday.

The Brunei Times

Brunei edged by Malaysia in AFF U-16 C’ships

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, August 1, 2015

TABUAN Under-15 (the national under-15 football team) succumbed to their second straight defeat in Group A of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Under-16 Championship after getting edged 1-0 by defending champions Malaysia yesterday.
A goal by Ariq Shaqirin Suhaimi in the 29th minute separated the two sides at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Tabuan Under-15 will continue their campaign against Laos tomorrow before completing their fixtures against Thailand on Tuesday.
Brunei are currently at the bottom of the group with one point to their name, bettering Timor Leste on goal difference.
They started the competition with a 2-2 draw against Timor Leste on Monday – which is already an improvement from the last edition when they lost all four of their games.
The Sultanate were then demolished 6-1 by two-time champions Vietnam two days later.

The Brunei Times

Brunei fall to Vietnam in AFF U-16 C’ships

SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, July 30, 2015

TABUAN Under-15 (the national Under-15 team) fell 6-1 to Vietnam in their second match of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-16 Championships in Phnom Penh, Cambodia yesterday.
Two-time champions Vietnam were 3-0 up in the first half and only took seven minutes after the restart to score their fourth.
Brunei pulled one back in the 68th minute but the Young Wasps conceded two goals late in the 89th and 90th minute.
It was the country’s first defeat in the group after opening with a 2-2 draw against Timor Leste on Monday.
Brunei now sit fifth in the six-team Group A with one point. Vietnam are second with three points behind leaders Laos, who recorded their second win in the group after beating Timor Leste 3-2 yesterday.
Brunei will continue their campaign against Malaysia at the National Olympic Stadium at 4.30pm tomorrow.

The Brunei Times

Home hold DPMM FC

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, July 23, 2015

DPMM FC kicked off the second round of the Singapore League (S-League) with a 0-0 stalemate against Home United FC last night.
The Brunei side could have taken the three points but couldn’t find a way past the Protectors’ shotstopper Shahril Jantan, who produced key saves to ensure both teams share the spoils in the matchup.
It was a slow start for both sides but it was Home who managed to switch gears first at the Yishun Stadium in Singapore.
Home United had pleas for a penalty turned down after DPMM FC goalkeeper Wardun Yussof caught Ken Ilso inside the box in the 24th minute.
Home almost broke the deadlock in the 28th minute after Abdil Qayyim got at the end of a freekick and headed the ball towards goal but DPMM FC sweeper Boris Raspudic came to the rescue of to head the ball over at the line. DPMM FC had a good chance three minutes later after a ball by Md Hendra Azam Md Idris was met by Maududi Hilmi Kasmi at the far post but Shahril did well to keep the ball out.
Home improved on their passing game at the start of the second half and almost found the back of the net just two minutes after the interval but Ilso got his shot blocked by Raspudic.
In the 52nd minute, Kamel Ramdani got at the end of a cross from the right but Wardun did well at the near post to deny him.
DPMM FC thought they had taken the lead in the 63rd minute after Ramazotti had his initial header saved by Shahril before Sergio scored on the rebound only to be flagged offside.
Home were given a let off just moments later with no penalty given after Sergio was brought down by Abdil inside the box.
The visitors got forward again in the 69th minute with Sairol Hj Sahari delivering a good cross from the left but Ramazotti’s side footed shot ended at the wrong side of the left post.
Shahril produced another stop three minutes later to deny Ramazzoti’s effort from inside the box.
Good piece of skill by the Brazilian to shift from the right to left foot to fire a low shot from the edge of the box in the 81st minute but the ball goes just wide of the post.
At the other end, Song Uiyong got into the box in the 85th minute but his attempt sailed over the bar.
The Protectors had a good opportunity to steal all three points in the 88th minute with Ilso putting a freekick from 35 yards into the box but Abdil headed it over at the far post.
DPMM FC remain third in the 10-team table with 20 points from 10 games while Home stay in sixth position on 14 points.

The Brunei Times

DST Super League returns next week

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, July 23, 2015

THE DST Super League returns next week with three matches after a month long Ramadhan and Hari Raya break.
The long break can be both a blessing and a curse for teams, potentially halting momentum if results and confidence are positive - or stopping a freefall if all is not well.
The Brunei Times is looking at several matches that could affect movements in the table as well as matches and encounters to look forward to.
IKLS FC will face Lun Bawang first next Saturday at the Berakas Sports Complex followed by another two matches on the next day.
Tabuan Muda (national Under-23 team) will go up against Wijaya FC at the Tutong Sports Complex while defending champions Indera Sports Club (SC) will play resurgent Jerudong FC at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.
Indera SC could replace Najip I-Team at the top of the table on goal difference should they beat fifth-place Jerudong FC.
Najip I-Team, the only team to complete the first round of the tournament, currently leads the 10-team table league with 18 points after six wins and three losses.
Meanwhile, second-placed Indera SC, the team with a 100 per cent win record - with the other being Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) in third place - now have 15 points from five games.
The other end of the table has bottom dwellers Kilanas FC still looking for their first points in the league after losing all their eight matches.
Royal Brunei Police Forces Sports Council (MS PDB) also face a rough time - sitting second last with four points after one win, one draw and four defeats.
Kilanas FC will only take the field on August 17 against MS PDB and the policemen have to face Wijaya FC on August 7 before that.
Wijaya FC, who are currently fourth in the league with 12 points, will be able to overtake MS ABDB in third if they beat Tabuan Muda with five goals margin.
Tabuan Muda - who represented the country at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore last month - currently sit sixth in the league with 10 points.
DST Super League newcomers, eight-placed Lun Bawang (four points) and seventh-place IKLS FC (six points) will meet for the first time after being promoted from the DST Premier League.
Lun Bawang could replace IKLS FC in seventh place if they get the three points.
The DST Premier League will also resume next week with two matches.
Panchor Murai FC will go up against Menglait FC next Saturday at the Balapan Track and Field while Perkasa FC will face Rimba Star FC at the Berakas Sports Complex on the next day.
League leaders Kota Rangers FC with 22 points is only win away from lifting the title with two matches left to play. Their closest challenger Tabuan Muda (national under-18 teams) is second with 21 points with only one game left.
Kota Rangers FC will face Perkasa FC on August 7 and Tabuan Muda on August 12.

The Brunei Times