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Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Brunei DPMM part ways with Singapore Premier League, returns to Malaysia Super League
SINGAPORE: There has been a mixed reaction from the football fans in both Singapore and Malaysia when it was announced that Brunei DPMM Football Club will no longer be participating in the upcoming season of the Singapore Premier League (SPL). Instead, Brunei's only professional club will be making a return to the Malaysian Super League. DPMM last played in Malaysia during the 2007-2008 season before making the switch to Singapore's professional league for the 2009 season. The latest development was first announced by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on May 22, stating that it acknowledges that Brunei DPMM will not participate in the SPL after the 2024/25 season. 'The decision was reached following discussions between FAS and DPMM, with the Brunei-based club expressing their intent to compete in other leagues. As the league's only overseas-based club, they brought diversity, professionalism, and a competitive edge that enriched the local football scene,' said FAS in the media release. FAS general secretary, Mr Chew Chun-Liang added that while the association are sad to see the DPMM leave the SPL, they understand the club's position and both (FAS and DPMM) are parting ways with the full support and appreciation from the FAS. 'DPMM has been a respected member of the SPL and a valued partner in the development of regional football. Their staff and players have consistently displayed an exemplary sporting spirit, and the club's impact on Singapore football will be long remembered. We wish them the very best in their future endeavours,' said FAS General Secretary Mr Chew Chun-Liang. Singapore Premier League 2024-2025 season final standings. (Photo: Facebook screengrab/SingaporePremierLeague) This year's SPL was won by a local club, Lion City Sailors, on 72 points, eight points ahead of second-place Tampines Rovers. DPMM ended the season in fifth position on 44 points. They won 12 matches, drew eight and suffered 12 losses. DPMM failed to advance to the Singapore Cup final, as they were edged out 5-2 on aggregate by Sailors in the semi-finals. In the other semi-finals, Tampines faced a tough battle against Thai side BG Pathum, with the SPL club eventually winning 4-3 on aggregate after extra time in the second leg. For a former footballer who had previously played for a mid-table team in the SPL, he wishes DPMM all the best for their return to the Malaysian League and hopes that FAS will now prioritise elevating the local professional league. 'I do not have anything against foreign clubs playing in Singapore. I have played against DPMM and also the Japanese club Albirex Niigata (S) during my playing career. These foreign clubs certainly bring excitement to the league. 'However, we have seen several foreign clubs come and go throughout the years. They need to bring value to the whole football ecosystem in Singapore,' shared the former footballer with The Independent Singapore . While some welcomed the move by DPMM, others questioned the club's topsy-turvy decision, which had brought them to play in both Singapore and Malaysia in recent years. 'The atmosphere was good when either Brunei or DPMM played in the Malaysian league. But the club has to be consistent and focus on long-term goals to develop their players, who form the bulk of their national team,' said Azman, a 50-year-old football fan in Malaysia. The midfielder, who wants to remain anonymous, feels that FAS should now focus on the growth and development of local clubs rather than inviting more foreign clubs to compete in Singapore in the future. 'We have always heard talks of expanding the league, so now we should focus on assisting local clubs to improve their standard and for FAS to do more in promoting local football and the league. For clubs that have aspirations to play in the SPL, they should receive the necessary guidance and expertise from FAS,' added the former Singapore Premier League footballer. MALAYSIA SUPER LEAGUE TO FEATURE 14 CLUBS, PERAK AND KEDAH AXED The new Malaysia Super League season is expected to start in August. It will feature 14 clubs, including the inclusion of two clubs, Melaka Football Club and Immigration Football Club, champions and runners-up of the Amateur Football League's (AFL) A1 League. DPMM will join the ranks of Johor Darul Ta'zim. The club owned by Johor's Crown Prince have dominated and won the Malaysia Super League title consecutively from 2014 to 2025. The remaining clubs for the new Super League season are: Selangor, Sabah, Terengganu, Penang, Kuching City, Sri Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur City, PDRM, and Kelantan. Citing financial issues, both Perak and Kedah have been dropped from the upcoming Malaysia Super League season. However, according to AFL chairman Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, both clubs will still continue to be active in the local football league and will participate in the AFL A1 league for the new season. Johor lifted their third consecutive Malaysia Cup, winning 2-1 against Pahang on April 26, 2025 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium. (Photo: Facebook screengrab/malaysianfootballleague) Following the announcement by FAS on May 22, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) released a statement a day later to welcome the Brunei club for the upcoming 2025-2026 Malaysia Super League. 'DPMM FC will play as an invited club after receiving approval from the International Football Federation (FIFA) to participate in Malaysia's professional league, the Super League, which is expected to begin in August 2025. 'MFL warmly welcomes the presence of DPMM FC to add more competition and excitement to the Malaysian League 2025–2026 after their last appearance in the Super League in 2008,' read the statement by MFL. It was not the first time that a Brunei-based club had played in the Malaysian league. Prior to that, the Brunei Football Association had sent a team, mostly made up of their national team players, which debuted in the 1979 Malaysia Cup and later played during Malaysia's semi-pro league era in the 80s and 90s. Brunei previously won the Malaysia Cup in 1999, defeating Sarawak 2-1 at the iconic Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. For club-side DPMM, their best ever finish in Malaysia was third place during the 2005-2006 Super League season.
Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore Premier League top scorer Tomoyuki Doi undecided over future amid interest from abroad
Geylang International's Tomoyuki Doi getting attention from the Lion City Sailors' Rui Pires (left) and Hami Syahin during a Singapore Premier League game on May 4, when he scored twice in Geylang's 3-2 win. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR SINGAPORE – Tomoyuki Doi, the Singapore Premier League's (SPL) runaway leading scorer, is a wanted man. Plundering 44 goals in 28 Singapore Premier League (SPL) games for the Eagles has placed Doi firmly on the radar of clubs in the region, who are eager to prise Geylang's talisman away when his contract is up at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Brunei DPMM declared their intentions early on, stating on their website that they are eyeing the 27-year-old Japanese striker as the Wasps bid to return to the Malaysia Super League (MSL) next season. Reports in Malaysia have also linked Doi with MSL runners-up Selangor FC. The Red Giants, who are led by Japanese coach Katsuhito Kinoshi, will be looking to challenge Johor Darul Takzim's domestic dominance and better their showing in the Asian Champions League Two after a narrow group-stage exit this season. While he admitted that he had received interest from other clubs, Doi remained tight-lipped about his suitors. 'I cannot say what will happen in the future, because we never know what's going to happen tomorrow. What I can do is to focus and shape my skills as a striker every day,' said Doi, who underlined his predatory instincts on May 4 when he scored a double to help Geylang beat Lion City Sailors 3-2, ending the SPL leaders' 16-game unbeaten run in the league. He said that he has not decided on anything yet, adding: 'It depends on the situation. I have to focus on playing with the team first, and after the season ends, we will see.' Having signed for Geylang in January 2024, Doi had stated at the start of the season that he 'wants to be a legend' in the SPL. In March 2025, he fulfilled that pledge as he eclipsed the record for most SPL strikes in a season set by Mirko Grabovac, who racked up 38 goals in a 33-game campaign for Singapore Armed Forces FC in 2001. Thanks largely to his 44-goal tally, Geylang are on course to finish in the top three for the first time since 2003, when they were second. Doi, who has 16 more goals than his closest challenger, the Sailors' Lennard Thy, is also a shoo-in for his second SPL Golden Boot award. Geylang coach Noor Ali is pleased to see Doi, who also scored six goals in four Singapore Cup games, getting the recognition that he deserves. 'I'm happy for him. Of course, you definitely want to keep this kind of striker. There's not only Brunei DPMM (interested in him). There's a lot of clubs chasing after him. It's nice to see if the players progress and get better contracts, and I'm happy for them,' he said. But he acknowledged the mammoth task of filling the void that Doi's potential departure might leave. 'Definitely (tough to find a replacement). You have a striker scoring nearly 50 goals per season, and I think that's something that is going to be very, very hard for us to fill. But let's see, there are still three more games to go this season, maybe we can keep Doi for next season,' he added. Doi rose to prominence when he notched 19 goals for Hougang United in the 2021 season, a year after a league-winning campaign with Albirex Niigata. His exploits saw him winning the 2021 Player of the Year and Golden Boot awards. He returned to his home country in 2022, turning out 18 times for then J3 League outfit Fujieda MYFC, scoring four goals. In 2023, he played eight matches for Albanian first-tier side FK Bylis before returning to the SPL with Geylang the following year. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
