Fight To The Finish
By Benny Ang

Bandar Seri Begawan - After five months of toil and trouble, the B-League 2003 will come to an end this weekend with the final round of fixtures to be played and the champion still to be decided.

There are two teams left in the running with DPMM FC and Wijaya FC both still in the hunt level on points with 22 each but DPMM FC edging ahead with a vastly superior goal difference.

Logic dictates that it would take a major miracle now to deny DPMM FC the crown for the second consecutive year as any sort of win would see them successfully defend their title.

But they are playing ABDB in the final match on Monday night and if any team has done enough to earn the title of bogey team for DPMM FC, it would be the soldiers.

After all, it is ABDB that has accounted for DPMM FC's premature exit from the FA Cup for two years running.

But DPMM FC is riding high on confidence and it is very hard to predict anything other than a win and a second successive B-League title for DPMM FC.

The addition of Brian Iman Abdullah Bothwell into their ranks early on in round two has done nothing but add weight and credibility to their reputation and if Malaysian defenders have been unable to find an answer for the burly Australian, how can our local defenders be expected to cope with his size and strength.

Wijaya FC are also unbeaten in round two of the B-League and their amazing run looks to continue this weekend with a win against Indera FC although they would still come up short.

Nevertheless, it has been an impressive season for the aggressive Wijaya FC, whose ability to play tough yet fair in the eyes of the local referees has been a major factor in their success.

They certainly have the quality in their lineup with national team stalwarts Abang Noisilimy, Hj Subhi Abdillah Bakir and Zulkefly Duraman and to finish second to DPMM FC would hardly be considered a major setback.

Amazingly, Kasuka FC still has a chance of finishing third which would be a major boost for them. If they can grind out a victory against AH United and ABDB come out on the losing end against DPMM FC as expected, then Kasuka will end up as third placed team.

It is fitting that the B-League 2003 has come down to the final weekend after a successful second season since its inception and there may yet be one more twist in the tale. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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