The Brunei Super League (abbr: BSL; Malay: Liga Super Brunei [1]LSB) is a professional league for men's association football in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. It is at the top tier of the Bruneian football league system, and it is managed by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD). The football clubs participating in this top tier league need to pass a set of requirements and verification process, particularly related to professionalism and infrastructure feasibility.[clarification needed]

Brunei Super League
Liga Super Brunei
Organising bodyFootball Association of Brunei Darussalam
Founded2012; 12 years ago (2012)
CountryBrunei Darussalam
ConfederationAsian Football Confederation
Number of clubs16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation todistrict leagues
Domestic cup(s)Brunei FA Cup
Brunei Super Cup
Current championsKasuka
(2023)
Most championshipsMS ABDB (4 titles)
Websitethe-fabd.com/brunei-super-league
Current: 2024-25 Brunei Super League

The BSL championship winner will receive B$15,000 as prize money, in addition to a qualifying berth for the AFC Cup as Brunei's representative, provided that the winning club conforms to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Club Licence criteria. The BSL runners-up will receive B$10,000.[citation needed]

History

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There has been a football competition in Brunei Darussalam since 1985, which was organised by the then Brunei Football Association (BAFA). In 2002, BAFA introduced a league competition known then as the Proton B-League.[2]

In 2008, the Brunei government de-registered BAFA from its Register of Societies for failing to provide reports of its annual general meeting and other required documentation.[3][4] Subsequently, a new football federation, the Football Federation of Brunei Darussalam (FFBD) was established.[5] This irked FIFA, international football's governing body, and prompted FIFA to suspend Brunei's membership in September 2009 due to government interference.[6] Subsequently, in May 2011, FIFA reinstated Brunei, recognising another football association, the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) as its representative for Brunei Darussalam.[7] This resulted in the abandonment of the 2011 Brunei Premier League (BPL) which was organised by the FFBD.[8]

The NFABD reorganised the Brunei football league system, establishing a 'super league' as the competition's top tier (akin to the British Premier League, but mirroring the current league naming system of the Malaysia Super League), becoming the Brunei Super League (BSL; Liga Super Brunei, LSB). This was established after playing a preliminary competition, which decided the teams that was to form the new league. This became the 2011–12 Brunei National Football League, where thirty-two teams in four groups qualify for ten club places in the Brunei Super League.[9]

The founding team club members of the Brunei Super League were: Indera, Jerudong, Kilanas, LLRC, Majra United, MS ABDB, MS PDB, Najip, QAF, and Wijaya.[10]

Current format

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In the 2020 season, the league was expanded to sixteen club teams in accordance to FIFA, Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) aspirations.[11]

Players aged 35 years and over must produce a medical fitness certification to be registered for the league.[12] Each match-day squad must contain a minimum of four under-21 players, with at least two u-21 players in the starting eleven.[12]

At the end of each BSL season, the team champion is crowned. Any tiebreakers in the standings are subordinately classified in descending order: accrued 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.[citation needed]

Teams

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The 2024–25 Brunei Super League season will have 14 teams, mostly from the previous season with three clubs exiting and one re-entering.[13]

Championship

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Brunei Super League season placings
year champion runners-up third place
2012–13[14] Indera MS ABDB Majra United
2014[15] Indera (2) MS ABDB Najip
2015[16] MS ABDB Indera Najip I-Team
2016[17] MS ABDB (2) Indera Wijaya
2017–18[18] MS ABDB (3) Kota Ranger Indera
2018–19[19] MS ABDB (4) Indera Wijaya
2020[20] abandoned after round 2 due to Covid-19 pandemic
2021[21] abandoned after round 7 due to Covid-19 pandemic
2022[22] not held due to Covid-19 pandemic
2023[1] Kasuka Indera Kota Ranger

Performance by clubs

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Brunei Super League highest achievers
club winners runners-up winning years
MS ABDB 4 2 2015,[16] 2016,[17] 2017–18,[18] 2018–19[19]
Indera 2 3 2012–13,[14] 2014[15]
Kasuka 1 1 2023[1]
Kota Ranger 0 1[1]

Records

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Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman (in home colours of the DPMM) being the top scorer of two BSL seasons, in addition to the all-time BSL goalscoring record holder with 62 goals.
 
Adi Said (in away colours of the Kasuka) as the most recent BSL best player for the 2023 season.

Top scorers

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Brunei Super League top-scoring players by season
season players team / club goals
2012–13 Azwan Ali Rahman[23] Indera 17
2014 Zulkhairy Razali[24] Indera 11
2015 Hardi Bujang Jerudong 18
2016 Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman MS ABDB 8
2017–18 Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman (2) MS ABDB 28
2018–19 Hanif Aiman Adanan[25] Kasuka 16
2021   Andrey Varankow DPMM 23
2023   Leon Sullivan Taylor Indera 31

Best player award

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Brunei Super League player award by season
season player club
2012–13 no award n/a
2014 Mazazizi Mazlan[26] MS ABDB
2015 Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman MS ABDB
2016 Tarmizi Johari[27] MS ABDB
2017–18 Haimie Abdullah Nyaring[28] Indera
2018–19 Nur Asyraffahmi Norsamri Kota Ranger
2023 Adi Said Kasuka

All-time goalscoring record

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As of 20 November 2024

Players in bold are still playing in the Brunei Super League. Players in italics are no longer active.

Brunei Super League overall player ranking by goals scored
rank player period(s) club(s) goals
1   Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman 2012–2018 MS ABDB 62
2   Hamizan Aziz Sulaiman 2012– Indera 59
3   Leon Sullivan Taylor 2020– Kasuka, Indera 58
4   Asri Aspar 2012– Indera, Kasuka 57
5   Razimie Ramlli 2015–2019, 2021, 2024– MS ABDB, DPMM 49
6   Adi Said 2020– Kota Ranger, Kasuka 45
7   Abu Bakar Mahari 2012–2014, 2016–2019, 2023 Jerudong, QAF, Kota Ranger 41
8   Anaqi Sufi Omar Baki 2012–2019 Wijaya 40
9   Abdul Azim Abdul Rasid 2015– Wijaya, MS PPDB 37
10   Hardi Bujang 2012–2021 QAF, Jerudong, Indera, Kota Ranger 35

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Stokkermans, Karel (14 November 2023). "Brunei 2023". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  2. ^ Schöggl, Hans (9 January 2005). "Brunei 2002". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ Sadikin, Syazwan (23 December 2008). "BAFA's fate up to Home Ministry". BruDirect.com. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam: BruDirect.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  4. ^ Kon, James (25 December 2008). "Appeal fails, BAFA sinks". BruDirect.com. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam: BruDirect.com. Borneo Bulletin. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  5. ^ Kon, James (31 December 2008). "Fans take over Brunei soccer". BruDirect.com. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam: BruDirect.com. Borneo Bulletin. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  6. ^ "FIFA ban Brunei". ESPNFC.com. ESPN FC. 30 September 2009. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  7. ^ "FIFA lift ban on Brunei; extend deadline for Indonesia". AseanFootball.org. Dili, Timor Leste: ASEAN Football Federation. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  8. ^ "FFBD-organised competitions to be discontinued". BruneiOlympic.org. Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council. The Brunei Times. 10 June 2011. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  9. ^ "NFABD kick off new Brunei league". AseanFootball.org. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam: ASEAN Football Federation. 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Ten teams to battle for Brunei Super League in December". AseanFootball.org. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam: ASEAN Football Federation. 5 June 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  11. ^ Kon, James (16 December 2019). "Three major football leagues next year". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  12. ^ a b Yunus, Fadhil (17 January 2023). "Fight for final spots in Brunei Super League begins on January 20". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  13. ^ @ligabrunei (22 August 2024). "Introducing the 14 football clubs set to compete in the Brunei Super League 2024". Retrieved 22 August 2024 – via Instagram.
  14. ^ a b Stokkermans, Karel (16 January 2014). "Brunei 2012/13". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  15. ^ a b Stokkermans, Karel (27 May 2021). "Brunei 2014". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  16. ^ a b Stokkermans, Karel (15 December 2016). "Brunei 2015". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  17. ^ a b Stokkermans, Karel (27 October 2022). "Brunei 2016". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  18. ^ a b Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel (27 October 2022). "Brunei 2017/18". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  19. ^ a b Stokkermans, Karel (27 October 2022). "Brunei 2018/19". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  20. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (23 June 2021). "Brunei 2020". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  21. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (2 October 2022). "Brunei 2021". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  22. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (12 March 2023). "Brunei 2022". RSSSF.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Indera SC take home the hardware". MSABDBFT.blogspot.com. The Brunei Times. 15 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  24. ^ "Indera FC juara Liga Super DST 2014". bhess-info.com. Pelita Brunei. 15 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  25. ^ "Kasuka FC's forward Mohd Hanif Aiman scoops Super League top scorer award". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin. 10 May 2019. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  26. ^ "Indera lose battle but win war". NFABD.org. The Brunei Times. 14 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  27. ^ "MS ABDB crowned DST Super League champs". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  28. ^ "MS ABDB pertahankan kejuaraan Liga Super DST". PelitaBrunei.gov.bn. Pelita Brunei. 10 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
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