Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
DPMM FC will have to deploy a different backline when they host defending champions Albirex Niigata FC (S) in the S.League tomorrow night.
The Brunei side will be missing the trio of defenders Hazwan Hamzah, Vincent Salas and Haizul Rani for the encounter at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
DPMM FC coach Steve Kean is not too worried and believes that there are others who have the ability to step up.
“Basically we will have a whole new defence and you never like to change the defence,” said Kean in an interview with BruSports News earlier in the week.
“But after Haizul was taken off (against Home United FC), Helmi (Zambin) came on and did well as a fullback.
“We got people who can fill in those positions. Hanif (Hamir), Rosmin (Hj Md Kamis) and (Ak) Yura (Indera Putera Pg Yunos) all can play there,” added the Scotsman.
“We just have to keep defending with the basics… not try to build from the back when pressed and just clear. That is something we have touched on again this week,” continued Kean.
DPMM FC remain second from bottom of the nine-team table with five points while the White Swans are at the top of the standings with 46 from 18 games.
Albirex won the first meeting 2-0 on March 9 and followed that up with a 4-0 victory on June 16.
They will be missing their topscorer Tsubasa Sano, who is serving a two-match ban after a straight red card against the Garena Young Lions in their last match but it still be no easy feat to topple the White Swans.
They are currently on an 11-game winning streak in all competitions and there is no reason for them to enter the matchup not feeling confident.
“The only reason why we can win so many games in a row is because we are never satisfied even when we get a good result, “said midfielder Shuto Inaba as quoted on the S.League.
“I will tell the rest of my teammates that winning so ma ny games is not the ultimate goal for us; this is because every player has their respective goals in every match which they play in,” he added.
