Twenty-four players and various sponsors signed on the dotted line with Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota Football CLub (DPMM FC) for the Great Eastern YEO's S-League 2013 season during a ceremony at the Pelangi Hall, Riverview Hotel yesterday afternoon.
Present to witness the ceremony was the Deputy Chairman of DPMM FC YAM Pengiran Maharaja Setia Laila Diraja Sahibul Irshad Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Rahim bin Pengiran Indera Mahkota Pengiran Anak (Dr) Kemaludin Al-Haj.
The S.League Cup holders retained the services of no-nonsense defender, Pg Sallehuddin Pg Hj Damit, whilst Tales dos Santos was the only familiar face out of the five imports that are currently under contract with the club.
The towering center-back will be joined by Portuguese striker Joao Vitor Rocha De Carvalho Moreira, Guadeloupean midfilder Stephane Auvray and Croatians Dino Drpic and Ivan Bosnjak.
DPMM also retained services of striker Shahrazen Said, captain Raosmin Kamis and hard tackler Azwan Salleh. The trio was the most consistent local players for the Sultanate club last season, as they ended the campaign as the league runners-up.
Speaking after the ceremony, Head Coach Vjeran Simunic stressed that it would take some time before the talents of his new crop of imports would come to light.
"Our destiny is always that we start the season by improving the team, our line-up against Home United will be the first time these eleven players have played together," remarked Simunic
Former Croatian international, Ivan Bosnjak, only joined his new teammates just over two weeks ago, and will be thrown straight in at the deep end come Thursday night.
Simunic, however, was confident that the 34-year old's experience would help him settle in the Sultanate with greater ease.
"Ivan Bosnjak didn't play one minute in Vietnam, but he's an experienced player, so I hope he can coordinate and be incorporated into the team very soon," he added.
"At the moment, like with every other coach in the world, when you change the team, it is a big ask and a big job.
"We have four new players from different countries, with different styles and personalities, and they will need time to coordinate and incorporate with the rest of the Bruneian players."
DPMM will open their 2013 S.League account with a trip to the Bishan stadium on February 21 to face Paul Lee Lim Saeng’s Home United. Match will kick-off at 730pm.
| Brunei DPMM Squad |
| Subhi Abdillah |
| Azman Ilham |
| Wardun Yussof |
| Rosmin Kamis |
| Sairol Sahari |
| Shahrazen Said |
| Sallehuddin Damit |
| Azwan Salleh |
| Shahrul Rizal |
| Suhaime Yussof |
| Helmi Zambin |
| Abdul Aziz Tamit |
| Najib Tarif |
| Fakharazzi Hassan |
| Hendra Azam |
| Fakrul Zulhazmi |
| Adi Said |
| Nurul Azami |
| Amalul Ariffin |
| Stephen Auvrey |
| Joao Vitor Rocha |
| Ricardo Dos Santos |
| Dino Drpic |
| Ivan Bosnjak |
