Ikhsan Fandi opened his league accounts last week.

SINGAPORE, 21 MAY 2018 – Young Lions are set to face another daunting task at Jalan Besar Stadium as they take on Brunei DPMM FC in a Great Eastern-Hyundai Singapore Premier League (SPL) clash on Wednesday night, 23 May at 8.30pm.

BACKGROUND By all accounts, three wins and a draw from five games is a decent record for any side.

But that is not good enough for Brunei DPMM Head Coach Rene Weber, who believes his side can achieve more as they aim to reclaim the league title that they last won in 2015.

“Yes I am happy about the team, but I tell them we can do more,” he explained. “They are training so strongly in a good way and have good techniques. Technique makes a difference and we have it, but we just need to improve our organisation in the field.”

DPMM’s previous game was on May 13 a 2-1 win over Balestier Khalsa FC and the ten-day break gives them a clear advantage in terms of freshness against the Young Lions, who play for the third time in a week.

They will at least be galvanized by their comeback win against Hougang United FC, where strike duo Ikhsan Fandi and Naufal Azman both netted.

Ikhsan in particular will be gunning for more, after breaking his SPL duck since he made his debut for Home United FC 20 games ago in 2016.

There is an opportunity for the Young Lions to make history too; since the Bruneian club’s re-entry into the domestic league in 2012, the Young Lions have failed to beat them in 16 league encounters.

TEAM NEWS The Young Lions could miss the services of Naqiuddin Eunos and Captain Taufiq Muqminin, while DPMM Head Coach Weber has reported no injuries.

FORM GUIDE
Young Lions: WLDLW
DPMM: WLWDW

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
18/11/17: Young Lions 1-2 DPMM – Singapore Premier League
07/10/17: DPMM 7-1 Young Lions – Singapore Premier League
13/05/17: Young Lions 0-0 DPMM – Singapore Premier League
26/09/16: DPMM 5-3 Young Lions – Singapore Premier League
19/06/16: Young Lions 1-1 DPMM – Singapore Premier League

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR
Ikhsan Fandi – Young Lions
The youngster made his professional debut with Home United on Valentine’s Day in 2016 in a 2-2 draw with Warriors, but never managed to find the back of the net until the weekend.

The goal was the icing on an impressive display and he will hope to kick on; with his work-rate and talent, Ikhsan will be a headache for the DPMM defence.

Azwan Saleh – DPMM
Perhaps not the biggest name around, but Azwan Saleh’s crosses pack a punch and with big man Volodymyr Priyomov up front, DPMM will be counting on his deliveries to make the Young Lions hurt.

WHAT ELSE THEY SAID
Young Lions midfielder Hami Syahin: “It is definitely important for us to get the three points because that will only boost our morale and confidence. Playing our third game in one week is definitely a challenge, plus it is also during the Ramadan period.

“But I believe that this is not something unusual for us because during the Hassanal Bolkiah tournament, we played back to back games. It is important for us to recover well and be ready to fight again. It is a challenge but it will not be an issue for us.”

DPMM Head Coach Weber: “I am expecting a difficult game against Young Lions as they have a young team and power. It will not be an easy game, but I hope to win because we are becoming stronger game by game, and playing good football as I like it to be. We have no advantage over them, they are a young team and also we will play… two games also in three days, so it is no excuses for any one.”

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