| Fadhil Yunus |
VETERAN Football Association (VFA) Brunei slipped to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of MB Perak team in a football friendly at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last night.
The VFA team, which were made up mostly of former national players who featured in the Malaysia Cup in the 1990s, kept the ball for long spells and demonstrated patience waiting to pounce for an opportunity and did exactly that as their two goals came from their exciting winger.
MB Perak manager Azhar Ahmad revealed that the two goals they conceded in the second half came from sloppy mistakes but regardless they have met their objective of fostering closer ties through football among the veteran football fraternity.
MB Perak had taken a two-goal lead through a brace from former Malaysia international K Nanthakumar in the first half.
However, the hosts hit back after the influential winger and another team-mate demonstrated patience taking a few touches between them and not pulling the trigger before setting up Radiman Haji Abdul Rahman who rifled a powerful low shot into the bottom corner.
The winger chose not to shoot early after taking the ball away from the defender before teeing up Ismail Haji Tengah to fire home the equaliser much to the frenzied scenes.
VFA Brunei were controversially denied a penalty after their winger, who were responsible for their two goals, were allegedly clipped by a MB Perak defender but the linesman waved play on much to the fury of the home crowd.
The visitors squandered a glorious opportunity deep into the second half after their number 17 skied an effort wide after being clean through having skipped a few markers with a pure exhibition of close control.
But, MB Perak scored early after the restart before adding another goal to wrap up the win.
Players challenge for the ball. – KHAIRIL HASSAN
VFA Secretary General Jabar Ithnin told the media that the football friendly became a possibility after receiving contact on bringing the Malaysia Cup legends to play in Brunei and the perfect challengers were the Veteran Football Association as hosts.
He continued that there are no problems for the veterans to compete at the international level if they made good preparations.
“We also have our own leagues (in the President and FA Cup) which help boost the fitness of players and increase understanding among the veteran players,” Jabar said in an interview.
Meanwhile, Azhar highlighted that both teams played well but his side rued their missed chances after letting VFA back into the game.
“Both teams played good but there were few mistakes. We should have delivered whereby when we had the chance and an open goal it certainly should have been converted three,” Azhar said.
Azhar indicated that it was inevitable in football that it will endanger the team if they could not take away their chances.
The team manager admitted the arrival of VFA’s right winger in the second half forced two or three uncharacteristic errors from his side which led to both goals for the home side.
The MB Perak team have played together for 8 years and have appeared in matches in the US as well as Singapore and Brunei for the first time.
The team manager expressed his gratitude to VFA for their kind and warm hospitality and in return proposed plans to invite them to a football friendly in Perak.
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