DPMM FC coach Steve Kean during yesterday's signing ceremony for players and sponsors at Centrepoint Hotel. BT/Yusri Adanan
DPMM FC coach Steve Kean is not worried he doesn't have a marquee import player yet.
Singapore League (S-League) rules allow for a maximum of five imports each team, and DPMM FC already have four.
The transfer window closes on March 22, and DPMM FC start their S-League season a month earlier on Feb 22 against Japanese side Albriex Niigata (S) FC.
Kean, the new DPMM FC coach, believes he already possesses a balanced squad through a mix of young and old local players - as well as the four imports that have been already been brought in.
"I think we can go all the way because we certainly have a competitive squad," Kean told the local press yesterday.
"We will take our time, however long that takes, until we get the right one (marquee).
Kean did admit that it's not an ideal situation but "as long as you get the right type", that's all that matters.
"The biggest thing is the attitude of the marquee player. He has to be here for the right reasons," said Kean.
"It's more important that he fits in with us, it's not a case where whoever is going to come in, we have to change what we have been doing.
"I've always said that he has to be here to play, work and to win.
"Sometimes you can be a little bit rushed in your decision making and then sometimes it doesn't work out right," said Kean following yesterday's signing ceremony for players and sponsors.
Mitsubishi Corporation, Brunei Shell Marketing Co, Maju Motors, DST Group, Royal Brunei Airlines, Sri Sentosa and Sports Partnership Pte Ltd officially signed deals with the club yesterday, the companies maintaining ties with DPMM FC that have stretched back for years.
When asked about how he could repay the sponsors' for their investment in the club, the Scotsman said he was ready to take on the responsibility to deliver.
"We are confident with the way we have been working, the way we have been training," said Kean.
"I've told the guys from day one that were in this to win the championship.
"I think the fans can see that we're possibly playing a little bit different to how we did last year," said Kean.
Kean has put DPMM FC through three pre-season matches leading up to their S-League opener, playing out one win and one loss to Thailand clubs last month and a goalless draw against Malaysian Super League side Kelantan last week.
"The important thing is to be solid and I think we saw that when we went up against Kelantan," said Kean, who after the game, said he would base his attack around Brazilian striker Rodrigo Tosi.
"Against Phuket FC (which the team lose 2-0) it was fine. The result wasn't great but the performance was good.
"We had a penalty we thought we didn't get, which was just one of those things.
"At that stage, the most important thing was the physical side.
"This week, we have been training on the physical loading but after this week we will start to taper it down and start to work much more technically and tactically leading up to the first game," added Kean.
Kean will be heading over to Singapore tonight to learn more about Albirex while they take on the Warriors in a friendly match.
After their game against Albirex at the Jurong East Stadium in Singapore, DPMM FC will take on Warriors on Feb 28 in their first home game of the season at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
"I'll be on a spying mission" he jokingly added.
