Brunei club Duli Pengiran Muda Makhota (DPMM) has joined Singapore's S-League for the 2009 season. The club was formed in 2000 and has spent its last three seasons in the Malaysian league and is Brunei's sole professional club.

"The idea of playing in the S.League actually first came in 2006 when we were involved in the Singapore Cup," said DPMM vice-chairman YAM Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahim.

"However the situation then did not permit it as we were playing in the Malaysian League.

"The S.League is very competitive and among one of the top ten professional leagues in Asia," he added.

"We want a competitive league and have found it here. This is the competition of a high standard and it will be a tough challenge for us to do well.

"It is also interesting for us as we are not just facing the local teams, but also the overseas sides from Korea and Japan." DPMM replaces Chinese club Dalian Shide Siwu in the S-League and league CEO Winston Lee sees it as a good opportunity for the club to join.

"One major pull for DPMM joining the S.League is the different styles of play they will get from competing against local and foreign teams," Lee said.

"It took a while for us before we could get them in, but it was well worth the wait.

"We are impressed by the management capability of the club. They are financially healthy, professional and well-run."