Abu Bakar Mahari

Abu Bakar Mahari
Personal information
Full nameMuhammad Abu Bakar bin Mahari
Date of birthFebruary 11, 1985
Place of birthBrunei Darussalam
Height1.64 m (5 ft 4 12 in)
Playing positionMidfielder, Striker
Club information
Current team
Kasuka FC
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2007KKSJ Penjara
2007–2008NBT FC
2008–2012DPMM
2010–2011→ KKSJ Penjara (loan)
2012–2013Jerudong FC
2014QAF FC
2015–Kasuka FC
National team
2008–Brunei6(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 April 2015

Muhammad Abu Bakar bin Mahari (born 11 February 1985) is a Bruneian footballer currently playing for Kasuka FC as a striker. He is nicknamed the "Eto'o of Tutong" due to similarities in appearance and footballing qualities with Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon.[1][2]

Club career

After impressive displays for the Prisons Department and NBT FC in the domestic league,[3][4] Abu Bakar was drafted in to play for Brunei's sole professional club DPMM FC in 2008, at that time playing in the Malaysia Super League. In the following year the club moved to the Singaporean S.League and he contributed 3 goals in 20 matches, winning the 2009 Singapore League Cup.

Abu Bakar was sent on loan to his old club the Prisons Department while DPMM could not resume playing due to a FIFA ban.[5][6] In this period, he suffered an injury which kept him out for a year.[7] Contemplating retirement, his then-coach Vjeran Simunić finally convinced him to play for DPMM in their comeback season in 2012, but he only managed to appear in 4 games before being released.[8]

Abu Bakar subsequently played for Jerudong FC in the 2012–13 Brunei Super League,[9] then QAF FC the following year.[10] He dropped a division in 2015, appearing for re-banded Kasuka FC in the 2015 Brunei Premier League.[11]

International career

Abu Bakar made his national team debut in a 0-1 loss against Philippines on 13 May 2008. His first goal came against Laos in a 2-3 reverse in the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup qualification on 23 October the same year.

International goals

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 23 October 2008 National Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia  Laos 2–1 2–3 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup qualification

Honours

Team

Brunei DPMM FC

External links

References

  1. "DPMM FC's made in Tutong Eto'o". The Brunei Times. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  2. "'Eto'o & mates' ready for QAF FC". The Brunei Times. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  3. "KKS struggle to down NBT". The Brunei Times. 1 September 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  4. "NBT win, ABDB regain lead". The Brunei Times. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  5. "Prisons overpower Ranger". The Brunei Times. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  6. "BPL under watchful eyes of DPMM FC". The Brunei Times. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  7. "Simunic makes rusty DPMM FC work hard". The Brunei Times. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  8. "DPMM FC players raring to go: coach". The Brunei Times. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  9. "Jerudong FC run riot in 6-0 victory over Najip FC". The Brunei Times. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  10. "Majra pick up first win". The Brunei Times. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  11. "Kasuka surge to second after Panchor Murai win". The Brunei Times. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.