Brunei Super League
The Brunei Super League (Malay: Liga Super Brunei; abbrev: BSL) is a Bruneian professional league for association football. It is at the top flight of the Bruneian football league system and it is managed by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD). The clubs participating in this top flight league need to pass a set of requirements and verification process, particularly related to professionalism and infrastructure feasibility.
| Founded | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Country | Brunei |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | District leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Brunei FA Cup Brunei Super Cup |
| Current champions | MS ABDB (2018–19) |
| Most championships | MS ABDB (4 titles) |
| Website | Official website |
| Current: 2023 Brunei Super League | |
The championship winner will receive B$15,000 ($11,400 USD) as prize money, as well as a qualifying berth to the AFC Cup as Brunei's representative, provided that the club conforms to AFC's Club Licence criteria. The runners-up will get B$10,000 ($7,000 USD).
History
There has been a football competition in Brunei since 1985 which was organised by the Brunei Football Association (BAFA). BAFA introduced a league competition known then as the Proton B-League in 2002.[1]
In 2008, the Brunei government de-registered BAFA from its Register of Societies, and acknowledged a new football federation, the Football Federation of Brunei Darussalam (FFBD).[2][3][4] This irked international football's governing body FIFA to suspend Brunei's membership in September 2009 due to government interference.[5] FIFA reinstated Brunei in May 2011, recognizing another football association, the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) as its representative to Brunei.[6] This resulted in the abandonment of the 2011 Brunei Premier League which was organized by FFBD.[7]
The NFABD reorganized the Brunei football league system, establishing a "super" league as the competition's top tier (thus mirroring the current league naming system of the Malaysians) which will be played after a preliminary competition which will decide the teams that will be in the new league. This became the 2011–12 Brunei National Football League, where 32 teams in 4 groups qualify for 10 places in the Brunei Super League.[8]
The founding members of the Brunei Super League are: Indera FC, Jerudong FC, Kilanas FC, LLRC FT, Majra United FC, MS ABDB, MS PDB, Najip FC, QAF FC and Wijaya FC.[9]
Current format
In the 2020 season, the league was expanded to sixteen teams in accordance to FIFA, AFC and AFF's aspirations.[10]
Players aged 35 years and over must produce a medical fitness certification to be registered for the league. Each matchday squad must contain a minimum of four under-21 players with at least two of them in the starting lineup.[11]
At the end of the season the champion is crowned. Tiebreaker in the standings are in descending order: Points, goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head record between tied teams, goal difference between tied teams, goals scored between tied teams, and drawing of lots.
Teams
A total of 16 clubs are competing in the 2023 season.[12] AKSE Bersatu and Lun Bawang are the two promoted sides from the district leagues.[13]
Championship
| Year | Champion | Runners-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13[14] | Indera SC | MS ABDB | Majra United FC |
| 2014[15] | Indera SC | MS ABDB | Najip FC |
| 2015[16] | MS ABDB | Indera SC | Najip I-Team |
| 2016[17] | MS ABDB | Indera SC | Wijaya FC |
| 2017–18[18] | MS ABDB | Kota Ranger FC | Indera SC |
| 2018–19[19] | MS ABDB | Kasuka FC | Wijaya FC |
| 2020 | Cancelled | ||
| 2021 | Cancelled | ||
| 2022 | Not held | ||
| 2023 |
Records
Top scorers
| Season | Players | Teams/clubs | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Azwan Ali Rahman[20] | Indera SC | 17 |
| 2014 | Zulkhairy Razali[21] | Indera SC | 11 |
| 2015 | Hardi Bujang | Jerudong FC | 18 |
| 2016 | Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman | MS ABDB | 8 |
| 2017–18 | Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman | MS ABDB | 28 |
| 2018–19 | Hanif Aiman Adanan[22] | Kasuka FC | 16 |
| 2021 | Andrey Varankow | DPMM FC | 23 |
Best player award
| Season | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | No award | n/a |
| 2014 | Mazazizi Mazlan[23] | MS ABDB |
| 2015 | Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman | MS ABDB |
| 2016 | Tarmizi Johari[24] | MS ABDB |
| 2017–18 | Haimie Anak Nyaring[25] | Indera SC |
| 2018–19 | Nur Asyraffahmi Norsamri | Kota Ranger FC |
All-time goalscoring record
- As of 2 August 2021
Players in bold are still playing in the Super League.
Players in italics are no longer active.
| # | Name | Period | Club(s) | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman | 2012–2018, 2021 | MS ABDB | 62 |
| 2 | Hamizan Aziz Sulaiman | 2012– | Indera SC | 54 |
| 3 | Asri Aspar | 2012– | Indera SC, Kasuka FC | 51 |
| 4 | Razimie Ramlli | 2015–2019, 2021 | MS ABDB, DPMM FC | 47 |
| 5 | Anaqi Sufi Omar Baki | 2012–2019 | Wijaya FC | 40 |
| 6 | Abu Bakar Mahari | 2012–2014, 2016–2019 | Jerudong FC, QAF FC, Kota Ranger | 39 |
| 7 | Hardi Bujang | 2012–2021 | QAF FC, Jerudong FC, Indera SC, Kota Ranger | 35 |
| 8 | Marhazif Ahad | 2012– | Wijaya FC | 29 |
| 9 | Esmendy Ibrahim | 2012–2014, 2016– | Jerudong FC, Najip I-Team, Kasuka FC, Kota Ranger | 27 |
| 10 | Mardi Mirza Abdullah | 2012–2021 | QAF FC, Jerudong FC, Kasuka FC | 26 |
References
- ^ "Brunei 2002". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 9 January 2005. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ . Borneo Bulletin. 23 December 2008. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ . Borneo Bulletin. 25 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ . Borneo Bulletin. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ "FIFA ban Brunei". ESPN. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ "FIFA LIFT BAN ON BRUNEI; EXTEND DEADLINE FOR INDONESIA". ASEAN Football Federation. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ "FFBD-organised competitions to be discontinued". The Brunei Times. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ "NFABD KICK OFF NEW BRUNEI LEAGUE". ASEAN Football Federation. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ "TEN TEAMS TO BATTLE FOR BRUNEI SUPER LEAGUE IN DECEMBER". ASEAN Football Federation. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ "Three major football leagues next year". Borneo Bulletin. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "Fight for final spots in Brunei Super League begins on January 20". Borneo Bulletin. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
- ^ @fa.bruneidarussalam (13 January 2023). "The much awaited Brunei Super League is scheduled to kick off in February 2023 and will coincide with the Brunei Darussalam National Day celebration. AKSE Bersatu (Brunei & Muara), Lun Bawang FC (Temburong) and HR FT (Belait) will compete with each other in a play off tournament for a slot in the Brunei Super League, season 2023". Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Instagram.
- ^ "21/01/2023 Brunei Super League Qualifying 2023". Radio Television Brunei. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Brunei 2012/13 April 22, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Brunei 2014 April 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Brunei 2015 April 22, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Brunei 2016". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Brunei 2017/18". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Brunei 2018/19". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Indera SC take home the hardware". The Brunei Times. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ . Pelita Brunei. 15 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ "Kasuka FC's forward Mohd Hanif Aiman scoops Super League top scorer award". Borneo Bulletin. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ^ . The Brunei Times. 14 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ . Borneo Bulletin. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ "MS ABDB pertahankan kejuaraan Liga Super DST". Pelita Brunei. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
External links
- National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam 2018-09-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Brunei Darussalam's Page in ASEAN Football
- RSSSF.com - Brunei - List of Champions