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Azwan Ali Rahman

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In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Ali Rahman is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Azwan.
Azwan Ali Rahman
Azwan with Brunei in 2024
Personal information
Full name Muhammad Azwan bin Ali Rahman
Date of birth (1992-01-11) 11 January 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Brunei
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 DPMM
Number 7
Youth career
2004–2010[1] Sports School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Jerudong
2011 Brunei Youth Team
2012–2013 Indera (17)
2019 DPMM II 1 (0)
2013– DPMM 181 (53)
International career‡
2012 Brunei U21 5 (1)
2013–2015 Brunei U23 10 (2)
2012– Brunei 26 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 October 2024

Muhammad Azwan bin Ali Rahman (born 11 January 1992) is a Bruneian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains the Singapore Premier League club DPMM and the Brunei national team.[2]

Club career

[edit]

Jerudong

[edit]

A product of Brunei's Sports School,[3] Azwan first represented Jerudong in the Brunei Premier League at the age of 15.[4] He was transferred to a national youth team (formerly the under-16s) playing in the 2011 Brunei Premier League and became their captain.[5]

Indera SC

[edit]

Azwan moved to Indera SC in 2012 and in the following year won the inaugural Brunei Super League, scoring 17 goals (including seven in one match) to finish as top scorer.[6][7][8]

DPMM

[edit]

The following year in 2013, Azwan immediately linked up with Brunei's sole professional team DPMM and made 16 appearances in his first season with the club.[9] The following year, he flourished in the first team with 6 goals in 26 games, receiving plaudits from his new manager Steve Kean who claimed that he would not look out of place in any top league.[10][11]

Azwan started the first half of the 2015 season in the same vein, until he was sent off for unsportsmanlike behavior in the game against Tampines Rovers on 10 May.[12][13] He began the second half of the season in hot form, getting on the scoresheet in 3 consecutive home matches.[14] However, he again saw red for violent conduct in the game against Young Lions on 23 August.[15] The league concluded on 21 November with DPMM lifting the title.[16]

In the 2016 season, Azwan was deployed predominantly on the left wing with Ramazotti and Paulo Sergio occupying the other attacking positions as Kean sought to defend the S.League title using a 3-4-3 formation.[17][18] His 7 goals contributed to DPMM finishing in third place in a season curtailed by an ankle injury suffered in June.[19]

Six goals in all competitions for an ever-present Azwan was still a bad return in a forgettable 2017 season where DPMM finished in 8th place.[20] Despite a change in coach, Azwan carried his irregular form over to the next year, finding himself in a midfield three with Hendra Azam and Azwan Saleh while Iranian import Mojtaba Esmaeilzadeh occupied his left wing spot.[21] He would later yield his midfield spot to captain Shahrazen Said but a drop in performance by Esmaeilzadeh presented Azwan with another opportunity in the starting lineup.

Azwan scored the winner against 2019 Singapore Premier League leaders Tampines Rovers in a 2–1 victory at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on 7 April.[22] This was his first goal in the league since netting against Garena Young Lions in November 2017.[23] He duly opened the scoring in the following fixture against Warriors FC on 20 April, a lob over the goalkeeper in the first minute, to help win the match 4–2.[24] He performed well for the rest of the campaign, winning the league title with two games to spare come September.[25]

Azwan with DPMM in a match against Kasuka during the 2022 FA Cup Final

DPMM II

[edit]

At the start of the 2019 Brunei Premier League, Azwan captained the first DPMM alongside the other two first team players,Azim Izamuddin Suhaimi, Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman also registered with the team lineup to compete in Brunei after 14 years away.[26] This was to be his only appearance despite being registered for the league.

Back to the main team

[edit]

In 2022, DPMM played domestically for the Brunei FA Cup, with Azwan now serving as team captain.[27] Azwan scored six goals at the campaign, including a first-half injury time equaliser in a 2–1 victory over Kasuka in the final at the Track & Field Sports Complex.[28]

When Azwan's team returned to the Singapore Premier League in 2023, he retained the captain's armband. He opened his scoring account for the campaign in a 3–4 loss to Balestier Khalsa on 10 March.[29] In the 2023 Singapore Cup fixture on 24 September 2023, Azwan scored the first goal in a 1–1 draw against recently crowned 2023 Singapore Premier League champions, Albirex Niigata (S).

Azwan scored his first goal for the 2024–25 season in an enthralling 3–3 draw against Geylang International on 22 June 2024, which was their first league match played at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium since the COVID-19 pandemic.[30]

International career

[edit]

Youth

[edit]

Azwan was in the Brunei under-21 team that won the 2012 edition of Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy, a tournament for the national under-21 teams of ASEAN countries. He played for the Brunei under-23s at the 2013 SEA Games held in Myanmar, scoring against Laos in their penultimate game. He repeated the same feat at the 2015 SEA Games in a 1–2 loss.

Senior

[edit]

Azwan was included in the full Brunei squad for the 2012 AFF Championship qualification and scored his first senior international goal in the tournament against East Timor in a 2–1 win.

Azwan playing at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification – play-off round as captain in 2024

Azwan missed the 2016 AFF Championship qualification games in October 2016 due to an ankle injury.[31] He recovered just in time to be included in the Brunei squad for the 2016 AFC Solidarity Cup in Malaysia a fortnight later.[32] Azwan came on as a second-half substitute in the first game against Timor-Leste and made an immediate impact as he broke the deadlock four minutes into his introduction, and further adding a second goal 6 minutes later. The match ended 4–0 to the Wasps, their biggest victory to date.[33] He lasted 70 minutes in the semi-final against Macau before succumbing to his longstanding injury.

Azwan became the stand-in captain for Faiq Bolkiah at the away leg of the 2018 AFF Championship qualification matches against Timor-Leste on 1 September, due to take place in Kuala Lumpur.[34] He came on at the start of the second half to replace Aminuddin Zakwan Tahir and drastically improved Brunei's play, scoring a crucial away goal in the 57th minute. However the game finished 3–1 to the team in red and black.[35] Needing at least two goals to go through, Brunei opted for an attacking formation for the home leg in Bandar Seri Begawan. Azwan was fielded at central midfield as the captain's armband was returned to Faiq.[36] The match finished 1–0 to Brunei, Najib Tarif scoring the winner in the 75th minute, although the Timorese came out on top 3–2 on aggregate in the end.[37]

In June 2019, Azwan along with his brother Abdul Azizi and several other teammates had pulled out of representing Brunei at the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.[38] This disrupted the plans of coach Robbie Servais and was one of the reasons for Brunei's elimination from the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup.

On 27 March 2022, Azwan captained Brunei for the friendly match against Laos away in Vientiane.[39] He scored Brunei's first goal in a 3–2 loss for the Wasps.[40] Later that year in September, Azwan was selected for a tri-nation tournament involving the Maldives and Laos. He came on in the second half for the first fixture, a 0–3 loss to the Maldives on 21 September, missing a penalty in the game.[41] He also entered the game at the hour mark for Hendra Azam Idris in the second fixture against Laos six days later where the Wasps managed a 1–0 victory.[42]

In December 2022 he was selected for the Brunei team at the 2022 AFF Championship.[43] He made three appearances against the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia where Brunei registered defeats in all of the matches.[44]

On 11 September 2023, Azwan was in the starting lineup against Hong Kong in an away friendly, which finished in an alarming 10–0 loss to the Wasps.[45] A month later, he was selected for the national squad to face Indonesia in two legs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification first round.[46] In the first leg away in Jakarta, he was introduced around the half-hour mark in place of Hendra Azam, also donning his armband.[47] The match ended 6–0 to the home side and the same scoreline occurred five days later in the return leg, sending Brunei out of the 2026 World Cup with a 0–12 aggregate loss.[48]

Having been left out of the plane to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 FIFA Series, Azwan was restored to the Brunei national team and was given the captain's armband for two friendly matches against Sri Lanka on 8 and 11 June 2024.[49] He managed to score in consecutive 1–0 victories, placing him within reach of Shah Razen Said's goalscoring record for Brunei.[50] This also gave Brunei their first ever three-match winning streak in their history.[51]

Azwan led the team as captain in September 2024 against Macau at the play-off round for the 2027 Asian Cup spanning over two legs.[52] In the first home fixture in Bandar Seri Begawan on the 6th, Brunei recorded a 3–0 victory where Azwan assisted Abdul Hariz Herman for the Wasps' third goal.[53] Four days later in Taipa at the away leg, Azwan scored the only goal of the game to secure a 4–0 aggregate win for Brunei who are through to the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying stage.[54] The goal also made him joint top scorer for Brunei with eight goals.

The Wasps came up against Timor-Leste in a two-legged play-off to contest the final spot at the 2024 ASEAN Championship in October 2024. Azwan played the first leg in Bandar Seri Begawan as captain where the Wasps succumbed to a Gali Freitas goal and lose 0–1.[55] A week later Brunei only managed to play a goalless draw at Chonburi which knocked them out of the regional tournament.[56]

International goals

[edit]
Scores and results list Brunei's goal tally first.[57]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 13 October 2012 Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar  East Timor 2–0 2–1 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup qualification
2. 2 November 2016 Sarawak Stadium, Kuching, Malaysia 1–0 4–0 2016 AFC Solidarity Cup
3. 2–0
4. 1 September 2018 Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1–2 1–3 2018 AFF Championship qualification
5. 27 March 2022 New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos  Laos 1–3 2–3 Friendly
6. 8 June 2024 Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei  Sri Lanka 1–0 1–0
7. 11 June 2024 1–0 1–0
8. 10 September 2024 Centro Desportivo Olímpico - Estádio, Taipa, Macau  Macau 1–0 1–0 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Honours

[edit]

Indera

DPMM

Brunei U21

Individual

See also: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei

Personal life

[edit]

Azwan's brother Abdul Azizi is a former Brunei international footballer.[59] Fellow Brunei international Hendra Azam Idris is also his cousin.[60]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sports School students for HBT challenge". Borneo Bulletin. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  2. ^ "2023 Singapore Premier League Matchweek 3: Preview". Football Association of Singapore. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Sports School gold run on". The Brunei Times. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  4. ^ "QAF singing in the rain". The Brunei Times. 8 December 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Brunei Youth Team move to BPL II summit". The Brunei Times. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Isa guns down Indera SC". The Brunei Times. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Indera humiliate Najip in 20-goal debacle". The Brunei Times. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
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  32. ^ "Helmi, Azwan join team for AFC Solidarity Cup". The Brunei Times. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  33. ^ "Brunei beat Timor Leste". The Brunei Times. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
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  36. ^ "Brunei coach hopes team can bounce back after first leg loss". Borneo Bulletin. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
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  38. ^ "Brunei national team set to miss nine key players". Borneo Bulletin. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  39. ^ "FABD announces Brunei squad for Laos friendly". Borneo Bulletin. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  40. ^ "Lao score slim win over Brunei DS". ASEAN Football Federation. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  41. ^ "Brunei lose to Maldives 3–0". Borneo Bulletin. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  42. ^ "Brunei beat Laos 1–0". Borneo Bulletin. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  43. ^ "National team in Malaysia for AFF preparations". Borneo Bulletin. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  44. ^ "Brunei lose 5–1 to Cambodia". Borneo Bulletin. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  45. ^ "Result: Hong Kong, China 10 – 0 Brunei". HKFA. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  46. ^ @fa.bruneidarussalam (9 October 2023). "Here's the 25 players that will be representing Brunei Darussalam in the World Cup Qualifiers". Retrieved 20 October 2023 – via Instagram.
  47. ^ "Indonesia vs. Brunei – 12 October 2023 – Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  48. ^ "NO HOME COMFORT FOR WASPS". BruSports News. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  49. ^ "Brunei to play Sri Lanka in international friendly". Borneo Bulletin. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  50. ^ "Brunei beat Sri-Lanka 1-0 in international friendly". DPMM FC. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  51. ^ "WASPS HANG ON TO EDGE SRI LANKA". BruSports News. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  52. ^ @fa.bruneidarussalam (5 September 2024). "Called up national team squad list for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: Brunei v Macau". Retrieved 10 September 2024 – via Instagram.
  53. ^ "07/09/2024 AFC Asian Cup". Radio Television Brunei. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  54. ^ "Qualifiers: Brunei Darussalam book spot in style". Asian Football Confederation. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  55. ^ "Freitas gives Timor-Leste advantage in AMEC playoffs". ASEAN Football Federation. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  56. ^ "Timor-Leste qualify for ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024". ASEAN Football Federation. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  57. ^ "Rahman, Azwan Ali". National Football Teams. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  58. ^ "Sultan sees HBT stars as nucleus of national team". Borneo Bulletin. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  59. ^ "Brunei edge Chinese Taipei for historic win". Borneo Bulletin. 19 March 2015. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015.
  60. ^ "HBT Alumni shares experience in winning the 2012 edition". New Brunei Daily. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
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