| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean has set his sights to become record winners of the Singapore League Cup for a historic fourth time ahead of their first game in Group ‘B’ against Tampines Rovers FC at the Jurong West Stadium in Singapore tonight.
The Brunei-based outfit reached the final twice in the last three years collecting their third title in 2014 and losing to Albirex Niigata (S) last year.
“This is a good tournament for us because in the last three years we’ve been to the final so we’re aiming to be the first team to win it four times. We’re getting into this tournament on the back of maybe two bad results but two good performances,” said Kean in an interview with the Weekend Bulletin after a training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.
“Even against Albirex when we lost, we played very well. We were excellent in our last game and we had more chances than the opposition,” the head coach said.
“In my opinion, we played better. So it’s just continuing improved performances and if we can keep improving just 10-20 per cent, then I am confident we can do well in this.”
He reiterated that training has been excellent and shared his belief that they can turn their season around by performing well in the cup competition.
League performances have not been kind for the Gegar Gegar men for most of the current season but there is belief in the camp that an upturn in fortunes could be forthcoming.
“We have had poor results and honestly poor performances. We have started slow and then we just kind of had a real bad spell but I feel as though I can really see the signs that we are coming out of that last performance.
“We have to just keep improving. There is a positive atmosphere back here at the Mini Stadium in Jerudong and this is the atmosphere we are going to continue because when the atmosphere is positive, vibrant and bubbly, then I think that will brings about a good feeling that we can win games,” he said.
When asked if they have a specific target of finishing either as group winners or runners-up, Kean added that he is focusing on winning games after a long winless drought.
DPMM FC’s striker Adi Said attempts to shrugs off his marker during a training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium. – FADHIL YUNUS
“We are just hoping to win every game that we play now because we have not won enough games this season. It doesn’t matter who we are playing. We want to win.”
With their only realistic hopes of silverware coming in cup competitions, Kean hinted the possibility of fielding a strong line-up.
“Even though it’s a cup competition and there are games coming, we obviously had to change personnel or players who are tired or picking up knocks. But at this stage in this season, it is about picking the strongest team possible and probably it will be a similar team to the one that started the last game.”
Kean praised the new players who came in the last transfer window including Chilean imports Vincent Salas and Daud Gazale and local players Haizul Rani Metussin and Hanif Hamir.
“Mimit (Haizul) the fullback, came in straight into the starting eleven and he has done fantastic,” said Kean of the former MS ABDB player.
Gazale will miss two group games against the Stags and Balestier Khalsa after picking a groin strain but could return in time for the final game against Geylang International FC.
Kean said Gazale and Rafael Ramazotti’s absence will provide opportunities for players such as Adi Said, Shahrazen Said and Maududi Hilmi Kasmi to shine.
Kean also shared his thoughts on sorting out missed opportunities which have been a recurrent theme this season.
“I think we get a little bit too excited when we get in front of goal. If you see the top finishers in any league in the world, when they are at their coolest and play with a cool head is just when they are in front of goal.
“So I think what we need to do is having a little bit more composure, don’t try and burst the net, don’t try and burst the ball, go for more placing rather than power and that’s a message I’m trying to say to the players when we get in front of goal.
“You can see the goalkeeper’s eyes and let’s go for the corners and go for accuracy over power,” the former Blackburn Rovers FC manager added.
Kean also felt that they deserved to win against Warriors during their previous outing in Singapore adding that bad refereeing decision cost them at least a point.
“If anybody seen the game, we deserved to win never mind draw. The fact that we lost was only down to some bad refereeing decision in the end because there was a clear penalty,” Kean said.
“But it is what it is and we can only control ourselves and we can’t control the referee. We hope that we can play with the same commitment, determination, team spirit and all the things that were there in abundance in our last game.”
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