Catch the match tonight between DPMM FC and Courts Young Lions

This is an important game for DPMM FC to get back to winning ways after only gaining 1 point in the last two games. DPMM FC will take on Courts Young Lions who have been struggling in the S•League with only one point in the five games they have played. Despite the visitor’s being 2nd from bottom of the league, DPMM FC won’t take this match lightly.

Did you know the Young Lions are Singapore U-23 team? Their results may not be favourable but they came close in getting points against Woodlands and Tampines Rovers only to have their hopes dashed by late goals. They were also one of the teams to gain a point at Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium with odds heavily against them last year. So this could be DPMM FC’s bogey team if DPMM FC fail to capitalize their home ground advantage.

Steve Kean expressed his thoughts, saying how challenging these matches can be tonight.

“I always think that these games are in a strange way just as difficult… if not, more difficult than playing against teams at the top of league,” said Kean in an interview with Yee Chun Leong of The Brunei Times yesterday at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.

“We may be better on paper but we all know that games are not won on paper. We will respect the other team and make sure we give them that,” he said. “They are a team filled with young players who will be eager to impress and try to get results. We must try to grab control of the game as early as we can. If we play anywhere near like against Tampines then I’m sure we will do very well,” continued the former Blackburn Rovers coach.

Aide Iskandar, coach of Singapore U-23 team, hopes his team can cause an upset against DPMM FC.

“Hopefully DPMM FC will be over-confident that my players are young and them slightly. Then they will see what my players are capable of, “ said Aide in an interview with Redzwan Kamarudin of The New Paper. “We still don’t have one of our main strikers, Sahil Suhaimi, and Jordan Webb is suspended so we are not at full strength.”

To those who are watching tonight, you can stand a chance to win an air ticket to Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta and there will be 8 other consolation prizes.

On another note, it was a surprise to see Tampines Rovers conceded 3 goals in the first 12 minutes as they suffered their first lost of the season in a 4-2 defeat by Hougang United.

DPMM FC coach Steve Kean (R) speaks to his players during yesterday’s training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium. DPMM FC will play the Young Lions at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas tonight. Picture: BT/ Yee Chun Leong

 

Roy O’Donovan was injured in the last game but kept on playing against Tampines Rovers. He had a minor surgery on his left thumb ligament and now sporting a cast. However, he still insists to play against Geylang International FC this Friday.

Steve Kean’s press conference with the media last Sunday

One on one with Steve Kean and his views of last game against Tampines Rovers where DPMM FC lost 2-1.

On DPMM FC’s performance: “The performance was there and we were trying to win the game. It wasn’t easy to stay at 1-1. We brought Param (Azwan Salleh) who can put a cross in. Sairol was getting very tired and he cramped his calf. So we brought in Adi who is another forward thinking player. I was disappointed with the second goal because when the ball was in the middle of the pitch, we have to get more pressure on the ball because obviously they are gonna shoot and get something on target. That was a disappointing factor.”

On the positive side: “On the positive side, we created enough chances to win. We just have to be more ruthless in front of goal.”

“If we hit the post and not score, this will give the other team a hope that they are still in the game and I think that’s what happen. We just had to get that second goal after conceding the goal in the manner we did.”

On Azwan Ali’s performance: “He prefers that position (attacking mid) that being wide. The defenders didn’t know where he was going and he kept going into the pockets and he can turn and he can dribble. Sometimes he was unlucky but he is an exciting player and he makes things happens whenever on the ball.

On the performance of the referee: “I don’t like to criticize referees. I think it’s the hardest job and I don’t who wants to be a referee. Because we just hope over the course of the season, we can get most of the decisions our way and some are gonna go against you.”

DPMM FC will fly to Singapore tomorrow for their match against Geylang International FC at Bedok Stadium. The match will be played on Friday 28th March. Good luck!!

 

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In a continuing effort to increase financial planning awareness among students in Brunei Darussalam, a team of managers from Baiduri Bank today visited the Kolej IGS in the capital where they presented a talk to some 200 students of the college. The talk emphasized the importance of financial planning to achieve financial success in life and outlined how students can benefit from suitable banking products such as the “4U” Value Pack which was specifically designed with students needs in mind.

Alice Lee, Branch Manager of Baiduri Kiulap Branch gave the welcome remarks followed by a talk on basic financial planning by Siti Aminah, Bancassurance Manager at Baiduri’s Wealth Management Centre. She gave tips on the choices students have today to save money. “Young people should be aware of their financial choices when it comes to planning for their future. This will ease them in their undertakings should they choose to study locally or abroad.”

Members of Baiduri Bank with the participants of the talk at IGS

This was then followed by a talk on the “4U Value Pack” Student Account by Shannon Sikun, Branch Manager of Baiduri Bank’s Muara Branch. Available to students aged between 12 and 29 years old, the package is designed to meet the needs of students studying in Brunei or overseas. It offers ease of banking via electronic channels as well as fee waivers or discounts on services such as overseas ATM cash withdrawals, processing fees on bank reference letters for student visa applications, funds transfers and financing. In addition, parents of the account holders can also apply for loans and financing to help meet expenses related to their child’s education, such as tuition fees, travel costs or purchase of laptops, stationery or books.

The talk ended with a quiz and a question and answer session. Upon giving the correct answers, students were given Baiduri merchandise and Starbucks vouchers which the students participated with great enthusiasm.
At the end of the talk, Pg Hajah Fatimah Binti Pg Setia Jaya Pg Hj Momin, CEO of Kolej IGS presented the Baiduri Bank team with a token of appreciation. “The talk definitely gave an insight to what Baiduri has to offer and our students are thrilled to know that there are programmes that will take care of them while they are pursuing their education.”

For more information on the Baiduri Student Account, please call the Baiduri Call Centre at 2449666 or visit www.baiduri.com

 

Divergent. I won’t share much too much but you are more than welcome to listen to our podcast (see soundcloud below) and see what you think. The biggest disappointment for me is the delivery of the movie as we are in the era of “Young Adult” adaptations with the likes of Twilight (glad that was over) and The Hunger Games (much better). Yes, we do have huge flops like The Host, The Mortal Instruments and Beautiful Creatures. However, Divergent have avoided the bombshell pit as it raked in almost US 60 million in the opening weekend.

Anyway, back to the delivery part. Well, the biggest flaw here is the pacing and film editing. It was totally disjointed and there wasn’t a moment I feel any anti-climax or climax for that matter. The other problem is when you already identify the problem, then you will have to endure the next 2 and a half hours of restlessness. The lead roles by Shailene Woodley and Theo James couldn’t bring the movie to better heights. The direction by Neil Burger (Illusionist) didn’t do justice to the best selling novel. I’m hoping for a redeeming sequel since it performed well in the box office but let’s hope these mistakes are being listened to and more improvements in the sequel.

You can check out my popcorn panel’s co-host blog post on Divergent and of course, you can listen to our podcast. Happy listening. Verdict: 5/10 Rottentomatoes 40%

Listen to our podcast review of Divergent and stand a chance to win PS4 console when I post the quiz on IG later on

The winning video by Tierce A with the title – What Do Kids Know About Energy

 

SMARTER Brunei aims to provides Individuals with Autism (IWA), an E.D.G.E (Educate, Develop, Grow and Empower to be C.H.I.P.S. (Contributing, Holistic, Independent, Productive and Successful) members of the Society. The curriculum is an A.L.O.E. (A Little Of Everything) V.E.R.A. (Versatile, Enabling, Responsive and Accommodating).  It is R.B.C (Research Based Curriculum) extracted from different best practices around the world to suit the individual needs and interest of the IWA.

As part of their efforts to increase our lifeline and sustainability, they are organizing a Charity Musical entitled SMARTER Musical Play 2014: “IWA: the Duckling” on the  5th April 2014, Saturday at the Main Conference Hall of the International Convention Centre not only to raise funds for SMARTER Brunei but also to showcase the talents of our 110 IWAs registered in their 3 centres [(ASD Intervention Centre, Sengkurong, ASD Intervention Centre, Kuala Belait and Brunei Autism Centre for Adults (BACA)].

SMARTER Musical Play 2014: IWA the Duckling, a charity fund raising event happening on 5th April. Click image to enlarge.

This musical is C.O.O.L as it is Created Out Of Love and was conceptualized by the President of SMARTER Brunei.  The musical’s theme highlights endeavor of each Individual with autism and their families.  The “IWA: the Duckling” is a musical fable that parallel the life of a duckling named IWA in an enchanted lake in search of sense of belonging.  On his journey, IWA has to face the challenges of the different stages of growing up from childhood to old age: the new beginning, rejection, reflecting, transformation and acceptance, and inclusion to the Society.

CHARITY FUND RAISING EVENT entitled “SMARTER Musical Play 2014: IWA THE DUCKLING”  on the  5th April 2014, Saturday at 7.30 pm at the Main Conference Hall of the International Convention Centre.

Ticket Prices: $30 (SOLD OUT), $50, $75, $100

CONTACT NUMBERS: 8918127 or 2661830 (Malou), 7172991 (hotline)

 

Audi A3 coming soon

The price is also quite competitive. For price, you can call 244 2333 extension 31 at T.C.Y. Motors

 

….and when will it end?

 

Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office YB Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar with Professor John Loughhead, Executive Director, UK EnergyResearch Centre, Great Britain and Adnan Z. Aminm, Director-General of International Renewable Energy Agency at yesterday’s Youth Energy Dialogue and engaging with the audience on the topic of sustaining energy locally and globally

Yesterday Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office YB Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar hosted the Youth Energy Dialogue at the Conference Hall at BRIDEX where more than 300 youth comprising of students, NGOs and employees at Oil and Gas industry attended the event. It was good to see students being engaged in asking questions to the Minister and the international speakers, Professor John Loughhead, Executive Director, UK EnergyResearch Centre, Great Britain, Adnan Z. Aminm, Director-General of International Renewable Energy Agency, Mr. Gerald Schotman, Chief Technology Officer, Royal Dutch Shell, Professor Yu Hongyuan, Deputy Director Shanghai Institute for International Studies and Professor Dr. Daniel Sperling, Director Institute of Transportation Studies and UC Davis Energy Efficiency Centre. The Youth Energy Dialogue was moderated by Khairunnisa Ash’ari, Community-Engagement Director of Green Brunei, Head of International Relations Brunei Youth Council.

The questions given for the panelists were quite relevant and there was even a question put forward for the Minister if one day that the government leaders will drive a hybrid or a smart efficient car to be the role models for the generation to promote energy savings efficiency. The Minister applauded the suggestion brought by Dk Hanna Afiqah Pg Hassanal Ali Saifuddien of Green Brunei. The Minister even agreed on the suggestion that styrofoam should be banned as food and drink containers.

The theme ‘Conserve Energy: Our Future, Our Choice’ highlights the role of Youth in the future and the importance of their own aspirations, initiatives, and actions in shaping the energy future. After the dialogue, the Minister of Energy presented the prizes to the top three winners of the first national Energy Video Competition and also the top three Energy clubs from schools.

It was quite a huge turn out yesterday

A friend from BSP also attended the event

A youth asking questions relating to sustaining energy

Behind the scenes of the Youth Energy Dialogue

The Top three winners of the National Energy Video Competition. Image courtesy of Faiq Airudin of The Brunei Times.

The 1st Runner Up of the National Energy Video Competition. Image courtesy of Faiq Airudin of The Brunei Times.

The 2nd Runner Up of the National Energy Video Competition. Image courtesy of Faiq Airudin of The Brunei Times.

The winner of the Energy Club from Sekolah Menengah Arab Lelaki Hassanal Bolkiah. Image courtesy of Faiq Airudin of The Brunei Times.

The second winner of the Energy Club from STPRI. Image courtesy of Faiq Airudin of The Brunei Times.

The third winner of the Energy Club from Sekolah Menengah Berakas. Image courtesy of Faiq Airudin of The Brunei Times.