Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
A LOT of questions were raised on why DPMM FC signed a new foreign goalkeeper for the new Singapore Premier League season when they had Wardun Yussof on the roster.
Brazilian goalkeeper Emerson Conceicao replaced the skipper, who managed a league-high 10 cleansheets last year, in the starting lineup in their opener on Friday.
The new signing didn’t disappoint in his debut and came up with a few impressive stops to ensure DPMM FC claim all three points with a 2-0 victory over Tampines Rovers FC on Friday night.
DPMM FC coach Adrian Pennock explained that the signing of Emerson was necessary.
“Wardun was unbelievable and was fantastic last year but we originally heard that he had retired at the end of the season before coming back,” said Pennock in an interview with BruSports News in a post-match interview.
“But we were thinking if he would get injured through the season after picking up a couple of niggles during the pre-season.
“It was also unfortunate that we lost two of our keepers to the Armed Forces and Police Force so it was important that we got Emerson,” he added.
“We also got a new young goalkeeper with Azrael (Arman) coming through. They work very in training and goalkeeper coach (Jorgeiraa) got to take a lot of credit for that,” he added.
[Related: Wardun to retired at season's end]DPMM FC had Charlie Clough and Andrei Varankou score in either half in the victory at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
Emerson had his first action denying Jordan Webb in the 14th minute before keeping Boris Kopitovic's shot out minutes later.
The hosts grabbed the lead 24 minutes into the game after Clough headed home Md Hendra Azam Md Idris’ freekick.
The Brazilian was called into action again five minutes before the break to deny Kopitovic.
The Stags came close to levelling just two minutes into the second half but Emerson stuck a leg out to deny Kopitovic’s effort from point blank range.
Emerson came to the rescue of DPMM FC five minutes from time after closing Kopitovic to fire over.
DPMM FC then ensured themselves maximum points from the encounter after a moment of brilliance by Varankou at the other end.
Last season’s topscorer got the better of two defenders before rounding Tampines custodian Syazwan Buhari to slot the ball home into an empty net.
Tampines finished the game with 10 men after Taufik Suprano was sent off for a foul on substitute defender Abdul Aziz Tamit.
Pennock praised his charges for executing the game plan accordingly.
“It was a fantastic result for us for a great start. We are a team and haven’t got individuals,” said Pennock.
“Tampines are a good side. We don’t care what anyone says but they have got really godo players.
“We got a game plan and it was spot on. We been working on it for 10 days and it is great to get our first win in the first game. We are now looking forward to the Albirex game,” he concluded.
DPMM FC will host the White Swans in their second game on Saturday.
