PETALING JAYA: Brunei may be well aware of Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) formidable record and dominance at their fortress, the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, but the Super League newcomers are heading to Iskandar Puteri today with a glimmer of confidence.
Guided by coach Jamie McAllister, Brunei finally notched their first win of the season after edging Melaka FC 1-0 on Sept 30, which lifted them to 10th in the standings.
That victory, said winger Tommy Mawat Bada, has not only given the team three valuable points but also injected much-needed confidence into the dressing room.
“Yes, the win was very important for us and it has definitely boosted the morale of the entire team ahead of our upcoming matches.
“Preparation-wise, everything is going well. The players’ fitness and focus levels are being maintained at their best as we head into this game,” said Tommy.
The 30-year-old admitted that confidence alone would not be enough against JDT, but he believes his teammates will not make things easy for the Southern Tigers when they clash.
JDT remain unbeaten after seven matches with a perfect record of 21 points. However, their backline is not entirely impenetrable, as Negri Sembilan gave them a real scare before eventually losing 5-3 on Aug 12.
Even minnows UM Damansara United managed to score three goals against JDT at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in the FA Cup before bowing out 10-3 on aggregate.
Brunei will be hoping to pull off something similar, and Tommy knows it will take full commitment and teamwork from everyone on the pitch to make that happen.
“We’ll go into the match with a positive mentality. Of course, JDT are a big team in Malaysian football, but nothing is impossible if we stay focused and work together,” he added.
