Football: Brunei expect tough competition at SEA Games

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE national under-22 football team are expecting tough competition at next week’s 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Brunei are pooled alongside hosts Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Laos in group A, while, defending champions Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Timor Leste and Philippines are pooled in group B.

National football coach Kwon Oh-son. Picture: Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

Head coach Kwon Oh-son is focused on the task ahead and urged his players to give their best in each game at the August 19-30 biennial tournament.

“We will face Malaysia in our first match…and we will focus on each game at a time,” Kwon told BruSports News in an interview earlier today.

“Myanmar is the strongest team in the group, they are technically superior and dominant than the other teams in the group…it is going to be a very competitive campaign,” added the South Korean during a training session at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

The national under-22 football team pose for a group photo. Picture: Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

The team will kick-off their campaign against hosts Malaysia on Monday before facing Myanmar next Friday.

They will meet Laos on August 21 and end their group stage play against Singapore on August 23.

The national side will be boosted by the arrival of Leicester City reserve Faiq Jefri Bolkiah and have already welcomed DPMM FC’s midfielder Ak Yura Indera Putra Pg Yunos during the training session.

National under-22 football team captain Aman Hj Abdul Rahim. Picture: Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

“We are going to have Faiq and Yura for the competition and that has given us a bit of a boost and now it is just for us to do our best and get a good result,” said team captain Aman Hj Abdul Rahim.

“Everyone feels good and we are trying to keep the positive vibe going into the competition and get some points,” he added.

The national team will leave the country for the Malaysian capital on Saturday.

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