Tabuan A defend Elite Youth Cup title

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TABUAN A defended their National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) Under-16 Elite Youth Cup title after defeating Tabuan B 3-1 in the final last night.

It was a very close affair in the first-half at the Balapan Track & Field with the score set at 1-1, but second half goals by Md Addy Zaky Billah Hj Awang Raimi and Md Aminuiddin Hj Masri secured the national Under-15 team the championship.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi Haji Mohd Yussof (L) presenting the championship trophy to Tabuan A captain Daniyal Mohd Zinin. Picture: Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

Md Danish Shah Behrom Shah opened the scoring for Tabuan B after Tabuan A goalkeeper Md Riyan Aiman Jali misjudged a bouncing ball in the 18th minute.

Tabuan A, who competed at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-15 Championship in Thailand earlier this month and recorded the country’s best ever finish in the competition after picking up five points from five games, equalised seven minutes later through Md Shafiq Hidayat Al Azim Shahrizam after a 50-50 challenge with Tabuan B goalkeeper Abdul Talifie Talip.

A more defensive-minded Tabuan B then let in two further goals after Md Addy Zaky Billah’s shot from the right flank deflected off Abdul Talifie and hit the left post before rolling into the goal in the 52nd minute.

Md Aminuiddin, who won the Man of the Match award and Top Scorer award with 11 goals, sealed the victory beating Abdul Talifie in a one-on-one eight minutes later.

Tabuan A players celebrating after the match. Picture: Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

“Our players concentrated during the final on doing when we practised during training,” said Tabuan A assistant coach Muhd Edie Fakhri Ajun Abdullah, whose team also leads the NFABD Under-16 Youth League.

“We have been having some really good training sessions, and they paid off,” he added.

Tabuan A beat Projek Ikan Pusu 4-0 in Wednesday’s semi-final while Tabuan B defeated Rimba Star 2-1 to set up the title showdown.

Present as the guest of honour to award the trophies and medals was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi Haji Mohd Yussof.

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