DPMM FC’s first match against Home United Feb 21
| Jake Ten |
DPMM FC fans will have to wait until March 1 to watch their team play at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium when the Great Eastern Yeo’s S League 2013 season kicks off.
A first release of the 2013 S League fixtures from the Football Association of Singapore confirmed the first five game weeks of S League action, with the full fixture list to be released later this week.
As is customary, the season will kick-off with the Charity Shield, which will be held on Feb 15 at the Jalan Besar Stadium. This year’s bout pitches last season’s S League champions, Tampines Rovers, against the winners of the 2012 RHB Singapore Cup and recently renamed, Warriors FC, previously known as Singapore Armed Forces FC.
DPMM FC’s first taste of S League action will come against Home United FC at the Bishan Stadium, Singapore on Thursday (Feb 21).
The Protectors were dubbed DPMM FC’s bogey team after beating the sultanate’s sole representatives 1-0 in the league in April, before knocking them out of the RHB Singapore Cup with the same score line the following month.
DPMM FC overcame their fears and a spirited performance against Home United FC in the quarterfinals of S League Cup saw the former triumph 5-4 on penalties after the game had ended 1-1 in extra time.
A 3-2 comeback victory over the Protectors at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium during the title run-in all but confirmed that there were no more skeletons in DPMM FC’s closet, and with last season’s top scorer, Frederic Mendy, signing for Portuguese side Estoril Praia in the off-season in search of greener pastures, DPMM FC’s first league game of 2013 is looking a lot less daunting.
DPMM FC’s first home game of the season will come in match week 2 against Hougang United FC on March 1. The Cheetahs finished 8th in the S League standings last year, and were savaged 5-1 by DPMM FC in the corresponding fixture last year.
Hougang United FC will also be without star player, Jordan Webb, who drew comparisons to Brazilian hotshot, Neymar, following a string of impressive performances in the league by DPMM FC’s very own Vjeran Simunic. The Canadian winger signed on with Home United FC for the 2013 season, whom DPMM FC will play in the precursory game week.
Match week 3 and 4 sees DPMM FC take to the road again for a few days. They will first play Courts Young Lions on March 7 at the Jalan Besar Stadium, whilst four days later, they play Albirex Niigata’s Singapore-based satellite team at the Jurong East Stadium. DPMM FC’s busy away schedule means that the S League Cup champions will sit match week 5 out.
