BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (14 Feb 2012) – The failure of several key players in the mandatory beep test cost DPMM FC’s the full points when they were held to a 2-2 draw by defending champions Tampines Rovers FC in their opening game of the S-League at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last night.
DPMM FC chief coach Vjeran Simunic were left to rue the concession of a late goal that gifted the side from Singapore the valuable one point in the match that was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik and HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah.
“We deserved the three points, but because of the (failure in the) beep test we were without key players like (defender) Yussof Salleh and (midfielder) Abang Norsilmy Abang Hj Taha,” said Simunic.
“We could win, no we deserved to win. We showed we’re a good team and that Singapore must care about us. We changed left-back Sairol Hj Sahari and right-back Shahrulrizal Hj Abd Rahman because they were injured.”
After putting in the early pressure, Osman Basiru gave DPMM the lead with a strike in the 38th minute before Mustafic Fahrudin equalised for Tampines ten minutes later.
And while Ivan Jerkovic might have given DPMM a taste that a win was imminent when he nailed the lead in the 69th minute of play, a defensive mistake right at the end allowed Jamil Ali to score the all-important equaliser.
