Brunei DPMM FC drawn in same group as SAFFC for 2009 League Cup

Contributed by Milton Tan.

Jalan Besar Stadium, Thursday, May 14, 2009 – This season’s surprise package Brunei DPMM FC have been drawn together with the Singapore Armed Forces FC and Albirex Niigata (S) in Group A for the Group Stage of the 2009 League Cup.

The draw held at the Jalan Besar Stadium saw the 12 S.League sides drawn into four groups of three, with the top two sides in each group progressing into the quarter finals.

The four teams who finished at the top of last season’s S.League competition, SAFFC, Super Reds, Home United and Tampines Rovers, were seeded and were drawn to helm the separate groups.

The draw also saw Guest of Honour, FAS President, Mayor Zainudin Nordin unveil the new tournament logo for the League Cup which was designed by World Sport Group, who will be producing the live telecast of the matches for StarHub’s Football Channel.

This season’s League Cup, which kicks off on June 1, will be the first to be shown live on cable television with 13 of the 20 matches broadcast live on the Football Channel (Channel 27).

Mr Zainudin Nordin, who is also Mayor of Central Singapore District,
said, “Singapore football is surely heading in the right direction. StarHub’s Football Channel’s pick up of our League Cup is a reflection of the growing demand for S.League football, which has seen increased crowd attendances and viewership numbers, as well as an increased coverage in the media this year. For the first time since the inception of the S.League in 1996, one of our League’s tournaments will be shown on cable television where viewers will get to see more than 50 percent of its matches live and with the S.League firmly recognised as the Top 10 League in Asia, the future is bright.”

Complete draws

Group A
SAFFC
Brunei DPMM FC
Albirex Niigata (S)

Group B
Tampines Rovers
Geylang United
Young Lions

Group C
Super Reds
Gombak United
Balestier Khalsa

Group D
Home United
Sengkang Punggol
Woodlands Wellington