DPMM FC to extend lead  

DPMM FC will take on Hougang United FC tomorrow night at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium. Finally the S•League has commenced after a long break due to cup matches. Tampines Rovers and the rest have caught up with DPMM FC winning their respective matches and now the pressure is back on league leaders DPMM FC to maintain or even increase the lead.

Tampines Rovers are now level on points with DPMM FC though DPMM FC can restore their lead soon tomorrow night. So do come and support DPMM FC tomorrow at the stadium and you can also stand a chance to win a ticket to KL and Jakarta sponsored by Royal Brunei Airlines.

What Steve Kean has to say for tomorrow’s match.

RA: How’s the intensity between the Singapore League Cup and (now back to the) S•League?

Steve Kean: “It’s a different intensity (the S•League and the Cup matches) and it’s good that we are back in the league now. We have a positive experience from the Singapore League Cup and we are looking forward to the next four games. But we don’t want to look far ahead and make sure we get the results tomorrow and hope a great game.

RA: Tampines Rovers are now same points with DPMM FC. Your thoughts?

Steve Kean: “Yes, they are on the same points but we are ahead on goal difference. That’s gonna happen usually at the end of the season that teams are gonna play before us and put the pressure on us. It’s not really about them but it is about us maintaining the standards. If we keep the standards, we can beat anybody.”

RA: Will any of the loaned players to HBT be featured in Sunday’s game?

Steve Kean: “It is a possibility that they are made available and the U-21 are playing against Sabah later and we gonna see if we can borrow some of them. Of course, when the competition starts for real, we are not gonna get them.”

RA: I realised the training has vastly improved over the season.

Steve Kean: “I said that on a number of occasions that you have the advantage to see them training live but the supporters will see the intensity, the technique, the passing. I think everyone has improved and this is a good thing as everyone wants to play and everyone is challenging for position.”

RA: Aiming for a big win or a clean sheet?

Steve Kean: “Just a win. At this stage, it’s all about getting wins, however it comes. It doesn’t matter if we just score one goal against any opposition. We always like to get a clean sheet but we will try to increase the intensity of the game really quick and control the game. In the cup competitions, we have at least 60% possession and we want to maintain that intensity and we will have a successful evening.

 

DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean’s training scheme has paid off over the months 

DPMM FC players have gelled immensely as a unit, physically fitter and mentally prepared for challenges. I’ve noticed the difference in their training yesterday at the Jerudong Mini Stadium. 

Both keepers of DPMM FC had a good training session. 

  

Skechers now opens 

at Seria  

Catching up with the owner of GL Extra Enterprise, the sole distributor of Skechers, over dinner at iLotus. Thanks for hosting us 😀 Image courtesy of Ikhwan Salleh of The Brunei Times. 

The management of Skechers Brunei with the local mediaThank you to Mr. Lim Kwee, the owner of Skechers Brunei for hosting us media for dinner the other night. He’s also the owner of GL Extra Enterprise that handles the leading outdoor camping store in Brunei Darussalam. Our dinner was held at a iLotus Restaurant and Mr. Lim’s intention was to simply appreciate the media for their contribution in spreading awareness on Skechers shoes and products.

Mr. Lim was happy to unveil the second outlet of Skechers at Plaza Seria in Seria which was opened to business since yesterday. The third branch will be somewhere in Kuala Belait.

The new store in Seria aims to target the niche market for the occupational industry shoes, owing to the large population of oil and gas workers living in Belait. This is a strategic area since many customers are from KB and Seria.

Since its opening in the final quarter of 2013, Skechers Brunei have been doing exceptional well because it’s a well known brand and also people have been commenting on its comfort.

Skechers ranges from casual to sports type so do check their GOwalk, GOrun and GObionic range. It’s good to see Skechers spreading its foothold in Brunei and the response has been favourable.

Skechers has a new outlet at Plaza Seria 

The wide range of Skechers available 

Hui Chiet trying out a pair at Skechers Kiulap branch last year 

Love the colours of Skechers 

Nice casual wear for the ladies 

Glow in the dark Skechers 

  

RB flies to Bali 😀  

The news that caught people’s attention 

Flying four times a week. Not bad, not bad 😀

Wow, after a long, long hiatus, this is very good news for Brunei travelers. Royal Brunei Airlines, Brunei’s national air carrier, will resume its direct flights to Bali, Indonesia, by 26th July 2014. This is indeed a very positive move and the comments on social media have been favourable. Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) has been going through major changes ever since its rebranding programme and I remember the Dermot Mannion, Deputy Chairman of RB, hinted of more routes as part of their strategic expansion as well as meeting demands of customers.

So how many times they will fly? I believe it stated that it will fly four times a week. The flights will operate by an Airbus A319.

The flights from BSB to Bali, BI757 departs at 8.55 pm and will arrive at 11.20 pm on Tuesday,Wednesday,Saturday and Sunday. Flights from Bali to BSB, BI758 departs at 7.10 am and arrives 9.40 am on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. For now, you can’t book on flybruneiair.com but you can inquire on your preferred travel agents. I’m pretty sure RB will have special promotions for this new route.

Royal Brunei Airlines was established in 1974 and is wholly owned by the government of Brunei. RB started with an initial fleet of two aircraft, serving Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Royal Brunei Airlines now operates a fleet of 10 aircraft to 14 destinations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia. RB is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s launch airline in Southeast Asia and with the recent deliveries of Dreamliners, Royal Brunei will have the distinction of operating the youngest long haul fleet in the world.

Royal Brunei Airlines won ‘Best Foreign Airline’ award in the category “Award For Best Airlines” at the Sabah Tourism Awards 2011. Last year, Brunei’s flag carrier won the Metro Time Shanghai Award for their Reader’s Airline of Choice and The Best Airline Provider from The European Asia.

Thank you RB for making this possible and it’s perhaps the best highlight moment after yesterday’s derailing topic that went viral (not RB related but I think you guys know what I mean). Below are just some of the images from my previous Bali trip back in 2012 and 2013. I will be heading again to Bali scheduled for November 2014. Who knows I might make another early trip before then.

 

My last trip last year August 2013 with my #superfriends buddies 

This was at Potato Head. Highly recommended place to chill. 

This was taken at the temple area. This was back in November 2012. 

One of the activities I enjoyed was water rafting. Pure fun but it was quite a fair ride. 

I managed to borrow this sign 

I didn’t give a good impression since I thought it was easy to ride a scooter. I was struggling indeed and it’s super darn cheap to rent a bike there too. It was like $5 for 3 days but I only needed half an hour just to get a feel of it. Scary but scary fun 😀 

My buddies whom I flew with back in 2012. We stayed at Maya Ubud and I truly love the place there. Quite remote and loads of green. 

The villa rooms are quite common in Bali and the prices are quite reasonable as well.  

  

Malppy Turns 1  

Click image to enter websiteIn the month of April, Malppy.com turned ONE! Malppy.com is very grateful to all their customers who have been supporting them thus far. As a thank you, Malppy.com is holding a few events online.

In celebration, Malppy.com is having a sale! In addition, as a thank you for your support, any purchase B$50 and above will receive a free gift from Malppy.com. The gift is a phone casing for iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5/5S. Offer is valid while stock lasts.

  

3 in a trot  

 

 

The highlights of last night’s game between Hougang United FC and DPMM FC

 

 

Hougang United FC 0 

DPMM FC 3 

Steve Kean wasn’t happy with the performance despite the three points. He felt DPMM FC didn’t play well in the first half and judging from the video I watched, DPMM FC could have been down by at least two goals if it wasn’t for the poor finishing of Hougang United FC. The home side were putting crosses and causing DPMM FC problems in the first half and Kean admitted that they were quite fortunate to go into the break with a clean sheet.

He did give a good point that championship team sometimes don’t play to their maximum but they still get the three points and last night’s game was a great example.

DPMM FC had a better second half and they could have scored a few more too. It was good to see new faces from the bench getting time on the pitch especially Najib Tarif and Helmi Zambin. Perhaps the highlight of the game was Azwan Ali’s rare header that brought all the three points courtesy of a wonderful cross by substitute Najib in the 77th minute.

The match was already delayed at Hougang United FC due to heavy rain prior to the match and it would be a nightmare for defenders especially goalkeepers due to the wet conditions. A big shout out again to DPMM FC defence and Wardun in goal for salvaging the important clean sheet.

DPMM FC’s top scorer Rodrigo Tosi was unfortunate not to score late in the first half with a cheeky lob but his effort just missed wide of the open goal. Roy O’Donovan’s effort were being saved by Nazri Sabri in goal.

The home side Hougang United FC have themselves to blame for not taking their chances. DPMM FC now have leapfrogged Tampines Rovers FC by a point though the defending champions have one game in hand.

DPMM FC were missing two key players – Captain Rosmin Kamis who is being rested for calf injury while Sairol Sahari had to rest after a hip strain and both should be back in next week’s home game. It is not a good run for Hougang United FC who just came off a loss against Geylang International FC after conceding three late goals. Hougang United FC have proved to be a threat in the league with their new signings and I won’t be surprised if Hougang United end up in the top three this season.

Great job to the lads as well as the head coach and the team management in rebuilding DPMM FC from last season. It’s always a great feeling to be on top. Keep it up!! Some of the images below are courtesy of Alson Ong.

 

DPMM FC first team line up last night 

Azwan Ali scored the winning goal with a great header in the 77th minute 

Tosi lobbed an effort but it went just wide of the goal, late in the first half 

Wardun Yussof holding off a challenge from Hougang’s Geison Moura 

Students from Sekolah Menengah Rimba II supporting DPMM FC last night. They are in Singapore until Saturday for a student exchange program. 

Free curry puffs for spectators last night (while stock lasts) 

It was heavy pouring a few hours before the match. Good thing the match wasn’t called off.