| Fadhil Yunus |
DEFENDING champions MS ABDB will begin their campaign in the DST Super League 2018 against plucky Wijaya FC in the season-opening fixture at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex tomorrow.
The reigning holders will look to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat in the curtain-raiser DST Sumbangsih Cup as they bid for a fourth successive crown.
Meanwhile, title contenders Indera SC will start their season against Kota Ranger FC, the team who nearly pushed the champions off the title last season at the Berakas Sports Complex the same night.
MS ABDB Team Manager Major (U) Haji Asbi bin Haji Anuar will take charge in his first full season since occupying the role earlier this year and he said that preparations have been ongoing since the defeat to MS PDB in the DST FA Cup semi-final last March.
“In terms of the preparations for MS ABDB, we follow the timeline and planning that we have outlined after the DST FA Cup last season. We were ready for the Brunei Darussalam National Games (SKBD) and the momentum never stops,” said Major (U) Haji Asbi in a press conference recently.
“After SKBD, we kept on training and we also prepared for the DST Sumbangsih Cup,” said the team manager.
He also hinted a new-look squad in the upcoming season with the arrival of young players.
“There are few players that we have introduced in the squad especially finding talent in young players. It is likely that there will be some changes from our squad last year.”
Meanwhile, Indera SC strengthened their squad this season with the arrival of Indonesian midfielder Iner Sontany Putra and Lun Bawang star Petrus bin Jumat. Both players made their debut during the DST Sumbangsih Cup win last week.
Team Manager Rosdin Abdul Aziz shared that the average age of Indera SC is between 22 and 29 years. “The majority of the players are under 28 years of age,” he said.
Asked on their ambitions for the new season, Rosdin sets his sights of wrestling the DST Super League title from their fierce rivals.
“We will do our best to win the DST Super League in 2019 and also retain our DST FA Cup title,” he said.