DPMM FC to go samba?

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DPMM FC, who are returning to the Singapore League next month, could be attacking to a samba beat.

Preparing with their return to the S-League, DPMM have import players with Brazilian defender Tales dos Santos,Croatian midfielder Ivan Jerkovic and Ghanaian striker with one more slot to fill the quota.

There was an unfamiliar face at the team's training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium yesterday.Brazilian striker Rodrigo Gral is currently on trial with the team and is trying to make his way to fill the quota of imports.

Yesterday was only his second training session with the team, but he has settled down quickly.

"The team have good techniques and the players are very fast.It was quite a surprise for me actually, but I already expected a team here in Brunei," said Gral during an interview yesterday.

"Playing here is quite similar to being in Qatar where the weather is hot and humid just like in brunei.There is also no problem with the local food since I'm used to eating rice and having tea- from my playing days in Japan," he added.

The pint-sized (176cm and 70 kg) striker relies on his spped in the box to score.The 34-year old Brazilianstarted his career to gether together with ex-Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Ronaldinho in Gremio youth teams in the 1990s.

Gral represented Brazil at the World Youth Championship and even had a goal to his name in the Nigeria tournament which he scored against Zambia in the group stages.

He was also part in the brazil Under-23 squad that completed in the 2004 Olympics in Greece.

He spent five years playing in Japan-with Jubilo iwata and then Yokohama Marinos-from 2001-2006 and averaged one goal every two matches during his time playing in the J-League.

He then moved on to play in Qatar next three years before returning to brazil to play for Bahia FC.