| James Kon |
BRUNEI will be treating “each match like a final” when the AFC Solidarity Cup kicks off tomorrow in Kuching.
Head coach Kwon Oh Son said, “There are only three teams in our group. We need to win all the matches to qualify for the next round as the top team.”
Brunei will be battling it out in Group A with Nepal and Timor-Leste, while Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Macau, Mongolia and Laos.
The top two teams qualify for the knockout stage.
Brunei face Timor Leste on November 2, followed by Nepal on November 8.
Kwon said he had done his homework on Timor Leste, having beaten them in the recent AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers.
“We have analysed Timor Leste. We beat them recently but we cannot afford to be complacent because five of their best players didn’t play during that game.
“I expect a completely different opposition.”
On preparations, Kwon said, “We are all set and ready to compete following our systematic preparation.
Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Acting General Secretary of NFABD, briefing the team. – JAMES KON
“It’s a matter of fitness levels and following instructions while on the field.
“The players are have yet reach 100 per cent of fitness level but we are trying to get there in time for the upcoming matches.”
The newly launched AFC Solidarity Cup replaces the AFC Challenge Cup, which was last played in 2014.
Brunei’s 30-strong team is led by manager Ah Chua Bangau.
The squad includes ten players from DPMM FC, namely Wardun bin Yussof, Awangku Mohd Fakharrazi Bon Pengiran Haji Hassan, Azwan bin Muhamad Salleh, Mohd Maududi Hilmi bin Kasmi, Rosmin bin Haji Mohd Kamis, Azwan Ali Rahman, Adi Said, Mohd Shahrazen bin Said and Mohd Helmi bin Zambin.
The rest of the players are Mohd Afi bin Aminuddin, Razimie bin Ramli, Mohd Nur Ikhmal bin Damit, Mohd Baharin bin Hamidon, Faiq Jefri Bolkiah, Abdul Azizi bin Ali Rahman, Mohd Najib bin Haji Tarif, Mohd Asnawi Syazni bin Abdul Aziz, Hairol Azaman Shah bin Abdullah, Mohd Shafie bin Haji Mohd Efenddy, Mohd Ishyra Asmin bin Mohd Jabidi, Mohd Tarmizi bin Haji Mat Johari and Hajo Mohd Yussof bin Haji Mat Yassin.
The post Brunei to ‘treat each match like final’ appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.