Written by: Shawn Lim

By all accounts, 2015 was a pretty good year for Azwan Ali, who not only won the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League title with Brunei DPMM, but picked up the S.League Young Player of the Year award as well.

As a member of the Wasps’ squad to lift the coveted trophy for the first time in the club’s history, Azwan’s place in the record books is secured as well.

However, the 24-year-old is not ready to rest on his laurels just yet as he feels that he still can improve even more.

“It was a great moment for this club since I arrived in 2013 where we finished second and then seventh (in 2014),” Azwan told the official S.League website on the sidelines of DPMM’s annual sponsor signing ceremony.

“It is a sweet memory for us to be able to win the title for the first time.”

“I will need to play better because because coach (Steve Kean ) has come up with different tactics for this season, so I will need to get used to his tactics.

With the S.League’s foreigners quota reduced to three, DPMM have been forced to release Bosnian defender Boris Raspudic and Northern Irish midfielder Joe Gamble, key members of the Wasps’ title-winning squad.

In the meantime, other clubs in the league have strengthened their squad with the influx of LionsXII players, while Tampines Rovers have added former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant to their squad.

Azwan is aware of the challenges that the Wasps will face in their bid to retain the their title, but sees no reasons why the Bruneians cannot win the league for the second consecutive year.

“There is an increased in the level of competition, but anything can happen, so we just have to focus on our own targets, which is to fight to win all the competitions,” said Azwan.

“The players will be part of the rotation with the reduction of imports, which means everyone will need to fight for their place and that will be a great motivation for us.”