Sunday, April 26, 2009

DPMM gear up for SAF

Vjeran Simunic insists his players are unfazed ahead of arguably their biggest match of the S-League season against leaders Singapore Armed Forces on Sunday.

The DPMM head coach feels the key to their clash at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas - DPMM are currently second - will be playing their own game and not giving the league's defending champions too much respect.

Facing SAF in their first home game in more than a month, Simunic said he was encouraged by the pair of wins the club came up with in recent friendlies with local teams.

"I am satisfied with our friendlies and it was a good preparation for us ahead of Sunday's big game," said Simunic on Tuesday.The players have been preparing as usual just like any other game, and I have told them to consider it nothing special."

"We have to play our game and not be too emotional about playing SAF," warned the Croatian.

Having not played at home since March 24 when Shahrazen Said's goal earned them a 1-0 win against Sengkang Punggol to propel DPMM to the summit of the league for the first time, Simunic admits that he is missing the atmosphere this Stadium.

And with the coach celebrating his birthday on Sunday, a win which will see them dethrone SAF from the top is just the present he wants from his players.

"It has been a month since we have not played at home and we miss our fans and our stadium," said Simunic and hope we can get a full stadium for the match, and with the right attitude, I hope I can get a good birthday present from the players."

"I would like the team to repeat the good performances they have been coming up with lately, and if we play good game we can expect a good result," added Simunic, whose team have yet to lose a match in their debut S-League season.

Injured striker Md Abu Bakar Mahari is doubtful to even get a place on the bench while Korean midfielder Od Ddog Yi will play no part in the game due to suspension, picking up his fourth yellow card of the season in their last match against Albirex Niigata.

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