Sabah test for Brunei
By Benny Ang

The recently cancelled visit of the Sabah football team is now back as they will arrive in Brunei this weekend to play two friendly matches against DPMM FC and the Brunei national team.

The match against DPMM FC will now take place on Friday night while the match against the Brunei national team will be played on Sunday night. Both games will be held at the JBS Stadium, Berakas.

Sabah were supposed to have been in town last weekend but had to cancel the trip due to the requirements of the FAM for the coaches and managers to be present at the Malaysian League draw in Kuala Lumpur last Sunday.

For all three teams involved in this mini-triangular friendly visit, it will be a chance to assess their potential players, both local and imports for the upcoming season.

DPMM FC are determined to get back on track in the B-League after surrendering their title rather unexpectedly to Wijaya FC last year.

They have a few imports on trial and under the guidance of new coach Alan Ferris, may not have a better chance to assess their talents and abilities than against one of the premier teams in Malaysia in Sabah.

As for Brunei, their story has been well-documented as they prepare to end their long-suffering in the lower division of the Malaysia League.

They have already retained the services of Brian Iman Abdullah Bothwell for this season and the match against Sabah on Sunday night will give them a chance to assess another two potential imports.

One defender arrived from Burkina Paso last week and another striker from Ghana was due to arrive in Brunei yesterday making it a trio of imports for Brunei against Sabah this Sunday.

Brunei will have their work cut out for them this season as only one team will be promoted to the Super League from their group which makes their hiring of imports all the more critical.

The visiting Sabah team also have one more import quota to fill according to their coach Peter Butler and the two games this weekend will be used more or less as a chance for him to see what they can do.

Robert Gaspar and Keith Gumbs have already been retained so it is a case of choosing just one more player.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin