INDERA NOT GIVING UP

Indera SC coach Hj Omar Hj Jamil has not given up on defending his team’s DST Super League
crown despite beng 10 points behind leaders MS ABDB.BT file
TWO-TIME DST Super League defending champions Indera SC are not giving up the fight to retain their crown.

Wasteful Indera were forced to a 1-1 draw against the Royal Brunei Police Force Sports Council (MS PDB) at the Tutong Sports Complex on Monday night – leaving them 10 points adrift of leaders Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB).

The army men have 39 points and need just six points from their remaining four games to seal this year’s title.

Indera are third in the 10-team table with 29 points with five games remaining in their schedule – a game in hand from both MS ABDB and second-placed Najip I-Team, who are on 30 points.

Indera coach Hj Omar Hj Jamil hasn’t thrown in the towel yet though, and speaking to The Brunei Times yesterday, said he was hopeful his men can win a third straight championship.

“I have said it before that it was always going to be difficult to defend the title, but we will try to do it,” said Hj Omar yesterday.

“We still believe that there is still a 50-50 chance we can retain our title.

“We still have faith and we just have to make sure that we win the rest of our games.

“It may be a big gap now but MS ABDB still have some tough fixtures to play as well,” continued Hj Omar.

Ak Mohamad Haikal Pg Zaidi gave Indera the lead in the 21st minute but PC5359 Mohd Saiful Rizal Hj Awang equalised for the policemen from a set-piece in the 76th minute to see both teams share the spoils on Monday.

The Indera coach was also disappointed that they failed to get maximum points against MS PDB despite putting in a good performance.

“I thought our performance was alright except that we didn’t finish off the many chances that we have. We just couldn’t find the back of the net,” said Hj Omar.

“Our defence was alright, except for that free-kick we conceded,” he added.

Indera will face off against Najip I-Team on Tuesday and will be hoping that MS ABDB slip up against Jerudong FC, who inflicted the only defeat on the armymen so far this season, on Sunday.

The remaining fixtures for Indera are Tabuan Muda (national under-23 football team) on Oct 25, Wijaya FC on Nov 2 and Kilanas FC on Nov 7.

MS ABDB, meanwhile, have Kilanas FC (Oct 23) and Lun Bawang (Oct 31) lined up.

Both teams will clash in the final match of the season on Nov 16.

It was has been a bumpy ride for Indera this season as they succumbed to back-to-back defeats for the first time in three seasons after losing to MS ABDB and Lun Bawang to end the first round.

They have also been hampered by goalkeeping problems with first choice Md Fakhrul Zulhazmi Yussof, who earned a cap with the national side in a friendly against Singapore in June, out of action.

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