Caption: Billy Mehmet (L) defended by Lionel Tan of Hougang United FC during their S.League match at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Sunday. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
DPMM FC are looking for back-to-back wins in the S.League when they face Balestier Khalsa FC tonight at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.
The Brunei side are in a confident mood after getting into the win column with a 2-0 victory over Hougang United FC at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Sunday.
DPMM FC coach Steve Kean emphasised the importance defence to get results.
“The good thing is that now the confidence is flooding back into the side,” said Kean in an interview with BruSports on Wednesday.
“But the most important are not the goals but making sure we can get a cleansheet.
“If we can do that (since) we always create chances, We can become a real hard team to beat and I believe we will pick up a lot of points,” added the Scotsman.
Balestier Khalsa are also coming off their first triumph of the season after edging the Garena Young Lions (Singapore national under-21 football team) 1-0 on Sunday.
The Tigers are a new look having signed the trio of Myanmar imports - Aung Kyaw Naing, Kyaw Zayar Win and Nanda Linn Kyaw Chit - for their campaign.
Kean knows what to watch out for against Marko Kraljevic’s charges.
“They are always direct and are very good with setplays,” said the former Blackburn Rovers manager.
“We need to keep their setplays at a minimum. They work a lot on deadball situations and that is something, having played against them the past couple of times, that has been a very dangerous aspect of their game,” he added.
Kean was also pleased to have Billy Mehmet open his account with the Brunei side with the opening goal in the last match.
“He has been unlucky as he had two of the best saves from the real chances like the header against Home (United FC) was incredible and the goalkeeper (Hassan Sunny) made a wonderful save,” said the 49-year-old.
“We have to see if we can get service into him. Just like in the last game where (Md Hendra) Azam (Md Idris) sent a good diagonal ball to him.
“If we can then he will always score because he has got quality,” he concluded.
Alizanda Sitom, who became the oldest player to lace up in the S.League at 46 years old, might get his second start in between the sticks with Wardun Yussof still nursing an ankle injury.
Kick off is at 7.30pm and will be telecasted live on RTB2.
