Uncertainty over Brunei DPMM’s participation in next Singapore Premier League season

SINGAPORE – A huge question mark is hanging over Brunei DPMM’s participation in next season’s Singapore Premier League (SPL), with the Bruneian club indicating their interest to return to the Malaysia Super League (MSL).

DPMM stated on their website recently that they are eyeing Geylang International striker and the SPL’s record-breaking top scorer Tomoyuki Doi for the MSL next term.

“With the signing of Doi, it will help DPMM to excel in the league for their debut season in the Malaysia Super League,” DPMM added of the Japanese, who has racked up 42 goals and 10 assists in 27 SPL games for the Eagles.

When contacted, DPMM coach Jamie McAllister said that the move is “not confirmed yet”, but the club said in another post on their website that talks for a return to the Malaysian competition are looking “positive”.

On April 21, Malaysian daily New Straits Times also reported on the Bruneian side’s keenness to be part of the MSL again.

If the move goes ahead, the SPL will be left with only eight teams.

But The Straits Times understands that there could be a replacement, as the 2025-26 season could possibly see the inclusion of Tengah FC.

Asked to comment on the situation, a Football Association of Singapore (FAS) spokesperson said: “Brunei DPMM is a long-time, valued partner of our local football fraternity and we are looking forward to watching them compete for honours in the upcoming Singapore Cup semi-finals.”

“We have an active Request for Proposal in process, and this is part of our efforts to refresh and rejuvenate the league competition, and we will make announcements on any new developments in due course,” the spokesperson added, referring to its search for new SPL clubs.

Tengah had received “in-principle approval” to participate in the 2024-25 SPL campaign. But they decided to withdraw a month before the season kicked off in May 2024, after the due diligence process took longer than expected.

Tengah chairman Louis Amalorpavanathan told ST then: “The process... took longer than expected. It’s been a while since a new club were admitted into the SPL, so I think both us and the FAS learnt a lot from the exercise.

“But rather than rush to kick off only a month away, we felt it would be the more responsible thing to do to compete in 2025-26.”

If DPMM’s move goes ahead, it would come at a time when some MSL clubs have been hit by financial issues, making it uncertain if they will be able to take part next season.

DPMM had taken part in the second-tier Malaysia Premier League in 2005-06 and gained promotion to the top-tier MSL, where they finished third and 10th in the following seasons.

They joined the SPL when it was known as the S.League in 2009 and won the League Cup.

However, they were removed from the league after Fifa imposed a global ban on the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam following government interference in its affairs.

DPMM rejoined the S.League in 2012, winning it in 2015 and 2019.

But they were unable to defend their title in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. When the season resumed later that year amid safe management measures, they had to withdraw due to travel restrictions in their country.

After sitting out the 2021 and 2022 seasons, they returned to the SPL for the 2023 campaign, finishing seventh in the nine-team competition.

With five games left this season, they are in the same position but have reached the last four of the Singapore Cup where they will face the Lion City Sailors.