Najip FC's Sahrul Haji Sabatu (C) and Indera SC's Mohd Aqmal Hakeem Abd Hamid during last season's DST Super League match. BT file
Najip FC's new management are ready to lock horns with any challenges ahead to reach their target of a top-five finish in this year's DST Super League.
Ending the 2012-2013 season at the bottom of the table with zero points from nine losses, Najip have made a major face lift this year.
The 22-man squad is made up of 21 new players, with Mohd Daud Tengah is the only name that was carried forward from last year.
Najip FC are ready to make a difference with their new mixed junior and senior set of talents.
They have Brunei's 2013 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games defender Mohd Azri Azahari and goalkeeper Abdul Hafiz Abdul Rahim in their squad and six players from the Under-21 national team which will compete in the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in April - Md Aminudin Zakwan Tahir, Alex Asmawi, Hanif Hamir, Abd Faiz Fakhrulrazi, Abdul Hafiz and Mohd Burhan.
Former DPMM FC midfielder Mohd Maududi Kasmi, Abg Norsilmy Abg Hj Taha, Md Karimurizzal Kasmi, Yusuf Salleh, Md Helman Hanafizal Hanafiah and Mohd Raimi Abd Karim make up the list of Najip FC's key senior players.
Najip FC started preparing for the league in November and organised friendly matches with local squads as well as one team from Miri.
Head coach Johari Bungsu said that the team are 90 per cent ready for their first match against Liang Lumut Recreational Club Football Team (LLRC FT) on Sunday.
"We will be having some serious training this week to prepare our strategies for our first league game against LLRC FT," said Johari in an interview with The Brunei Times.
"LLRC FT are a good team and it is very important for us to win our first game of the season, as it is for every team.
"I don't care how many we score, as long as we win.
"I am worried though about the field (Padang Arena in Seria) though because if I'm not mistaken, it hasn't been used in a while
"We will be hard working this year since there is new management," added Johari.
Najip FC recorded last season's largest losing margin when they fell 20-1 to league winners Indera Sports Club last January.
The only other team to seal double digits against Najip FC was the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB), who beat them 11-1 in February.
Najip FC saw 76 shots fire into the back of their net and only managed to knock in 11 goals to finish with a goal difference of -65 after nine matches.
The chase for the title starts at 8pm today when QAF FC take on Jerudong FC.
Last season's runner-up, MS ABDB lifted the first piece of silverware of the year after edging Indera Sports Club 2-1 for the DST Sumbangsih Cup on Sunday night.
