Tong Hai sees DPMM threat

Basil Yeo
info@sleague.com

Thursday will see DPMM FC’s first foray into the Singaporean neighbourhoods, as they travel to Bedok to take on hosts Geylang United, who have had a mixed start to the season so far.

The Eagles will be looking to get their season back on track, having won, lost and drawn their first three games respectively, while the visitors attempt to carry on silencing their critics as they now sit on third place with seven points from the same number of games.

However, the rest of the pack may argue that both of DPMM’s games won were played at their home soil in Bandar Seri Begawan.

That detail notwithstanding, the rookies are amongst one of the four teams in the league who have been undefeated so far.

Both teams have scored five goals in three games each, but Geylang have yet to solve their defensive problems as they have conceded that same amount, while DPMM have only allowed three past their keeper so far, a fairly good record for the newcomers.

The Bruneian club has earned somewhat of a reputation for scoring late goals, having salvaged a point in their competitive debut against the Young Lions in stoppage time, and winning both games against the Super Reds and Woodlands Wellington through 85^th minute goals coming from Abu Bakar Mahari and Ivan Jerkovic respectively.

New signing Abdel Hamid Berguiga may have a chance to start against Geylang, after having made his S.League debut as a substitute against Woodlands. The 35-year-old Algerian forward was the top scorer of the Algerian national championship for two seasons running, and made his first impression in the league by earning the penalty from Daniel Hammond which resulted in his side’s victory over the Rams.

This information would trouble the hosts to some extent, especially in their last game, a 2-2 draw against Sengkang Punggol, where they blew a two goal first half lead in the second half and allowed a former Eagles prodigy in Indra Sahdan Daud to nick the draw with a brace, including a 88^th minute equalizer.

In that same fixture, Geylang were also dealt a heavy blow in the back when Walid Lounis was sent off for a handling offence in the box, and will not be able to feature in the next two league games, prompting the possible return of Kamarulariffin Karim to the starting lineup after having replaced Lounis in the away game to SAFFC, which the Eagles lost 2-0.

“DPMM have been on a roll, winning back-to-back games in Brunei,” said Geylang United’s team manager and head coach Lim Tong Hai.

“With the inclusion of their new foreign player (Berguiga) they are no pushover.

“They now have seven points from three games, a good result for them, and it won’t be easy playing against them. I think they will be well-prepared for the game.”