Show Notes
Brunei DPMM FC, the Malaysia Super League, Singapore football and Brunei’s cross-border football story are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring a club that has needed three countries to find the right competition.
Founded in 1994 and closely connected to Brunei’s royal family, DPMM quickly outgrew the domestic game. Chris traces the club’s moves from the Brunei Premier League into Malaysia and then Singapore, where administrative chaos, FIFA sanctions and even a global pandemic repeatedly disrupted their place in the football pyramid.
The episode explores DPMM’s 2009 Singapore League Cup win, the bizarre season in which their league results were erased, and championship teams led by figures including Steve Kean, Wardun Yussof, Azwan Ali Rahman, Rafael Ramazotti, Adrian Pennock and Andrei Varankou.
Chris also examines DPMM’s rivalry with Tampines Rovers and Albirex Niigata Singapore, life at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, and the unusual financial and travel arrangements required for their current return to Malaysia.
It’s a story about geography, identity, and a Bruneian club determined to find meaningful competition beyond its own borders. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered The Underdog Football Show
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