A Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) player (C) in
action against an Indera Sports Club player during the DST Super League
match on Sunday at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in
Berakas.Picture: BT/Saiful Omar
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
ROYAL Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council's (MS ABDB) manager Major
Azaman Hj Husin has backed his players to bounce back from the agony of
seeing the DST Super League title wrenched from their grasp by Indera
Sports Club last Sunday.Indera's midfielder Azwan Ali Rahman scored a 82nd minute goal to snatch the title away from MS ABDB at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas, the 1-0 result the soldiers' only loss of the season.
Both teams finished the league tied on 22 points but Indera's superior goal difference was enough to land them their first league title since their formation 30 years ago.
While Major Azaman was understandably disappointed after a dramatic end to the season, he believes his team will come back stronger.
"We were fantastic throughout the season and the players worked very hard," he said in an interview with The Brunei Times last night.
"We will definitely learn something from this and I am very sure the players will come back better and (more) prepared next season," said Major Azaman, adding that the team is planning to get some new players.
Major Azaman reflected on the suffering that was the final day of the season, with the title switching destinations throughout a dramatic night.
"I am very frustrated of course. We had to take out Bayu (striker Mohd Mazazizi Mazlan) at the start of the second-half. He was injured and couldn't continue," explained the manager. "I think that was the moment that changed the whole game. We were under pressure (and) I have to admit they (Indera) played the best football in the second-half."
The army men, who clinched their first title of the season after defeating Indera 1-0 in the DST FA Cup final in December, did all they could in pursuit of the double this season.
They could have gone in front in the first half when Mohd Isa Hj Bahar sent a glancing header just over the bar, before Mohd Mazazizi's shot was brilliantly saved by Indera's goalkeeper Ak Omar Nur Aqamaddin Pg Hj Sallehuddin.
MS ABDB's Ak Mohd Safri Pg Hj Othman looked to have given his side the lead when he netted from close range following a scramble in front of goal in the 43rd minute, but his effort was disallowed for offside. But the decisive intervention was to come from Indera when Azwan made a wonderful run down the left flank to latch onto a through pass from Hamizan Aziz Sulaiman before dribbling past two defenders and slotting the ball at the near post.
"We knew that Indera were going to attack us in the second-half and it became worse with Bayu's injury. Whether you like it or not, you got to defend So I made a number of changes in the second half by bringing in some players to balance out the game. But unfortunately, Indera got their goal," Major Azaman said.
The Brunei Times
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