Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
DPMM FC have made their second change during the transfer window with the signing of Chilean defender Vincent Salas last week.
Compatriot Daud Gazale is the other player that the Brunei side have picked up last month for the remainder of their S.League campaign.
Salas, who formerly laced up with Puerto Montt in Chile, arrived in the Sultanate on June 2 and has settled in quickly.
“From the first day, I felt that I have arrived at a good dressing room with good people and that is important for our day-to-day,” said the 28-year-old in an interview with BruSports yesterday.
“My expectations are to move up the table with the team and contribute as much as possible in any way I can,” he added.
When asked on his impressions of the country so far, Salas said: “Brunei is a wonderful country. Everything is good and I feel very comfortable. I hope to be here for a long time.”
Daud Gazale is set to make his DPMM FC debut against Albirex on Friday. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
On the other hand, Gazale also feels right at home in the Sultanate.
“I’ve been here for one month and Brunei is very nice including the weather. I enjoy the food which I feel is similar to Chile,” said the 32-year-old.
“The guys are good and I feel good as they are very supportive as well,” he added.
The 2015 S.League champions are currently second from bottom of the nine-team table with one win and a draw after nine games.
They are also coming off their largest defeat ever with a 9-3 demoltion at the hands of Home United FC at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore on May 25.
They now have a difficult upcoming fixture as they face the unbeaten Albirex Niigata FC (S) on Friday.
DPMM FC's latest signing Vincent Salas during a training session yesterday. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
DPMM FC coach Steve Kean hopes that the changes to the squad can help turn their season around.
“It is not any slight on the lads who have been released. We just had to change the personnel to stimulate the squad again,” said Kean after a training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium yesterday.
“This is the first time we made changes halfway in four seasons. What is really good is that we also had four local lads come in. They were excellent and we will be taking two of them.
“Salas is tall and dominant in air, more like Brian McLean, as he heads the ball well and is very quick.
“He is good on the ground and I think he will give us more dominance in aerial bombardments where at times we find it difficult to deal with the balls in air than normally did,” added the former Blackburn Rovers manager.
“As for Gazale, he can play as the No 10, wide left or wide right. He is a very skillful player and can create something out of nothing, a bit of a trickster.
“He has a great last pass and has very good finishing. He gives us a lot of quality especially in wide areas.
“When we had Billy (Mehmet), who is more of a striker, sometimes we need to play someone wide and is more of attacking midfielder,” he concluded.
Reduan Hj Petara (L) in action during a training session yesterday. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
