Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
DPMM FC will kick off their The New Paper League Cup Group B campaign against Tampines Rovers FC at the Jurong West Stadium in Singapore next Saturday.
The three-time champions will then take on Balestier Khalsa FC at the Jalan Besar Stadium three days later before completing group stage play against Geylang International FC at the same venue on July 14.
The semi-finals will be contested on July 18 followed by the title decider on July 21.
The New Paper League Cup fixtures. Picture: Courtesy of S.League
DPMM FC won the tournament for the third time in 2014 and made their fifth final appearance last year where they fell 2-0 to Albirex Niigata FC (S).
Despite all their struggles in the S.League, DPMM FC coach Steve Kean hopes that they can get back on track with this tournament.
“The games come thick and fast. It is a fresh competition and we have done well since I’ve been here,” said Kean in an interview with BruSports yesterday.
“There is positivity on the training ground with the level of work and it feels like there is a freshness again.
“The boys have a lot of enthusiasm to go and prove to everybody in Brunei who are questioning what is happening this season. They want to show that we are a good team,” added the Scotsman after a training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.
DPMM FC during a training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium on Friday. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
The Brunei side were handed a favourable draw as Group A is made up of defending champions Albirex Niigata FC (S), Home United FC, Warriors FC and Hougang United FC.
Kean is delighted with the draw but is unfazed regardless of who they will have to play.
“I’m happy with the draw. But you are going to have to play, like in previous years, the best team sooner or later,” said Kean.
“It doesn’t matter if it is the first game, semis or final. We just got to get on with the draw.
“It is not about the other teams but about us improving. If we can show like what we did against Albirex (in their S.League encounter on June 16) and be ruthless in the box, we hope that for this League Cup we can make it to the final and win it again,” concluded the former Blackburn Rovers manager.
