| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC head coach Rene Weber acknowledged the good start his charges made in response to his call against Warriors FC in the Singapore Premier League at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium in Singapore as they remain in the hunt for a runners-up place.
With second-placed Tampines Rovers and Home United winning their matches, the Gegar Gegar men, who trail the duo by five points, could not afford any slip-up.
“The win (against Warriors) is important. We have three more games including two at home against Young Lions and Tampines (Rovers) who are our direct rivals,” said Weber in an interview with the Singapore media.
“We are trying to be second or third. Today we did well and in the beginning of the game we started very good.
“We could score more and we lost at least three opportunities. Warriors are a good team and we will face them again in the Singapore Cup next Wednesday. We have four days of rest but the victory was important tonight to our run-in for third or second.
“I always talk to the players that this team have a good quality. I know the league has 24 games and if we can keep this team working more in more games for one or two seasons we can improve the football.
“Even there are teams in the league who also have good qualities. You have Tampines, Home United and Young Lions and other teams that are also equally good,” added the head coach.
“When the team start to play in the first half like we did today I’m always happy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Warriors FC defender Emmeric Ong felt that his side should have earned a point.
“I felt we deserved at least a draw. The effort that we put in can’t be underestimated. A few calls were against us today but we have to do better.
“We were quite sloppy in possession today and I felt even though both sides had their chances within the game we deserved a draw at least.
“I think that the goal (equaliser) gave Brunei the psychological boost right before the break. We should have held on to our lead till half-time, regroup and have a better chance to win the game. That was a big blow to us.
The defender also gave his take on Volodymyr Priyomov’s second goal of the game which led to protests from the Warriors camp for suspicions of offside.
“I was coming back from the other side so I think I had a clear view of it. I think he (Priyomov) was playing the ball forward so if the striker is in front of the ball that is offside for me,” he said.