TOP 5 GOOD ENOUGH FOR DPMM'S CAPELA

Brunei outfit aim to improve on 2023's 7th placing in SPL and play better football

- Ervin Ang

In 2019, Brunei DPMM were at their zenith after clinching their second Singapore Premier League (SPL) title.

But unforeseen circumstances then derailed their plans for a hattrick. Due to travel restrictions imposed by the Brunei government during the Covid-19 pandemic, DPMM had to pull out of the 2020 and 2021 editions.

After rejoining the SPL in 2023, they were forced to play all their 24 league matches in Singapore, with their home stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan under renovation.

They picked up just six wins and laboured to a seventh-place finish, 39 points behind eventual champions Albirex Niigata.

With their 28,000-capacity Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium now ready to host matches, DPMM enter the 2024/25 SPL season aiming to return to winning ways under new Portuguese coach Rui Capela.

Capela, who joined in January, told The Straits Times: "The target is very simple to improve the ranking from last year and for the team to play better football. And if possible, the first five positions at this moment is a good target.

"It's too early for me to say what will happen in the future. Now my process is game by game. If we're going in a good way maybe in December, I can tell you we can fight for something more."