Brunei DPMM coach Vjeran Simunic: “We bring something special to Singapore.”

Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports.

After the League Cup final against the Singapore Armed Forces FC, of which Brunei DPMM FC won 4-3 on penalties, Brunei DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic was clearly over the moon and it showed at the post-match press conference.

Simunic beamed: "Fortune follows the courageous. I think we were the more courageous throughout the competition and it again showed in this match.”

Simunic displayed obvious pride for his team that had to cope with the loss of two key players for the final.

“We were missing Abdel Hamid Berguiga (suspension) and Ivan Jerkovic (illness) but my team surprised me with their mental stability throughout the match with my other players stepping up. SAFFC might have thought that we couldn't win because of the missing players, but we followed the same game plan throughout the competition."

Simunic proceeded to discuss about his attacking strategy.

"It was reported that we play boring football but now, we are scoring goals. I have followed the same game plan with three forwards in every match. Even with Hamid and Jerkovic not playing, I still stuck with the plan. My 3-5-2 is very different from others and sometimes, I finish with six attackers."

As one title was being wrapped up and flown back to Brunei, another was still up for grabs as Simunic let on about the focus of the team.

"For now, we will celebrate our first title, but our next (league) match will be against Geylang United on Wednesday. We have to play league leaders Gombak United as well so we have a chance to close the gap,” he said.

Brunei DPMM’s League Cup win marked the first time a foreign team has won any of the local titles and that made Simunic certain that his team has made their mark in Singapore.

He said: “Before we came to Singapore, there were five big teams: SAFFC, Super Reds, Tampines Rovers, Home United and Gombak United. Now, there are six with DPMM included.”

Having said that, he revealed his esteemed regard for all teams: "I respect all Singaporean teams, even Sengkang who DPMM beat 1-0. We played a very good match, a very good match indeed.”

“When I came to Singapore, I expected to be able to go this far as I think we bring something special to the S.League and to Singapore football," he added.

In his ecstasy, he has also drawn a comparison of himself with the self-proclaimed "Special One", Jose Mourinho.

"Don't you agree with me? That we bring something special to Singapore? I know I may talk too much, but so does Jose Mourinho."

Mourinho lit up the English Premier League with his colourful talk. Clearly Simunic, through his display of talking the walk, is lighting up the S.League in the same way.