DPMM FC to visit Vietnam for pre-season friendlies

Ivan Bosnjak (L) tussles with Spain's Sergio Ramos during a test match before the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The former Croatian international has agreed to terms with DPMM FC, according to coach Vjeran Simunic. Picture: EPA
Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, January 25, 2013

DPMM FC will be flying to Vietnam for pre-season friendly games against three Vietnamese teams in Ho Chi Minh City from February 1-8.

However, the team will not be playing Vietnam's best football clubs, with coach Vjeran Simunic (pic) saying that most of the country's top sides will be occupied with other domestic tournaments.

"The best football clubs in Vietnam are currently playing in other tournaments in other parts of Vietnam, so they will most likely unavailable for the friendly matches," said the coach.

"However, we will still be playing against good teams and the players are looking forward to the trip," he said.

"Pre-season friendlies is very important for us and it is necessary. The players will benefit a lot from it and it will help us to go through the S-League campaign this season," hesaid.

Simunic also revealed to The Brunei Times last night that DPMM FC has agreed to terms with Croatian 2006 World Cup striker Ivan Bosnjak.

"Ivan is now in Croatia. But he will be back in Brunei before the pre-season friendlies in Vietnam.

He is a good player, but he needs to adjust to the team, and that is why the pre-season friendlies are necessary," he added.

The 33-year-old, who has 14 caps and one international goal to his name, will join new signings Portuguese striker Joao Vitor Rocha De Carvalho Moreira, Guadeloupean midfielder Stephane Auvray, Brazilian centre-back Tales Ricarte dos Santos and compatriot defender Dino Drpic.

Since leaving DPMM FC in October 2009, Simunic returned to his native Croatia for a short stint in charge of NK Medimurje before taking charge of Ho Chi Minh City FC a year later.

He then returned to the Sultanate last year to guide DPMM FC to second in the S-League before winning the Singapore League Cup.

Meanwhile, Warriors FC previously known as Singapore Armed Forces (SAF FC) defeated Woodlands Wellington 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at Jalan Besar Stadium on January 9.

New signings Kazuyuki Toda, Shi Jiayi, Syaiful Iskandar and Abdil Qaiyyim featured for the Warriors in the win.

Tatsuro Inui and Mislav Karoglan scored during both sides of the break for the Warriors, although Woodlands managed to score a consolation goal with a Moon Soon Ho strike two minutes before half-time.The Brunei Times


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