| Fadhil Yunus |
THE Veteran Football Association (VFA) received a massive boost after it was formally announced that DST will be the title sponsors in a sponsorship cheque presentation ceremony at the DST HQ in Tungku Link yesterday.
The significant moment marked the eighth year that DST has been known as the title sponsor since the synergy has existed between both DST and VFA for the first time in 2010.
DST has continuously support the development and progress of football in the country in whatever level while VFA has further helped make giant strides in the popularity of veteran football.
The veteran league has expanded from a modest number of 10 teams when it first began to 43 teams this year.
This season the league features a new format with the teams divided into President 1 and President 2 with the VFA Cup named as the cup football competition which is contested in a knockout format.
In addition, VFA will also be introducing the Champions Cup which will unite the President 1 Champions Cup, President 2 Champions Cup and the VFA Champions Cup to challenge for the trophy and cash prize to be donated by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Representing DST to officiate the sponsorship was Radin Sufri Radin Basiuni, Assistant General Manager of Group Corporate Communications in DST while representing on behalf of VFA was Sharbini Mohidin as the Vice President of the Veteran Football Association and Chairman of the DST National Veteran Football League 2017.
“We’re happy to support the Veteran Football Association (VFA) for the eighth year,” said Radin Sufri in an interview with the Weekend Bulletin.
“Recently, we’ve also taken on board to support Projek Ikan Pusu (PIP). With the support of Projek Ikan Pusu, we are quite happy to support Brunei football from the young years all the way to veteran football and in between which is very important for us to support NFABD with the support of football at the national level.
Radin Sufri Radin Basiuni, Assistant General Manager of Group Corporate Communications in DST (left), presenting a cheque to Sharbini Mohidin, Vice-President of the Veteran Football Association. – FADHIL YUNUS
“The focus on DST in terms of Brunei’s football development is to make sure that our dollars spent on football contributes directly to the development of football in Brunei and also the Bruneian footballing community in general,” he concluded.
Meanwhile Sharbini expressed his gratitude to DST for their continuous support in their eighth year as title sponsors.
“This is the 8th year VFA will organise the DST National Veteran Football League and as the title sponsors DST is not relaxed in providing assistance and solid cooperation for this year’s tournament,” Sharbini said in an interview.
“This year the DST National Veteran Football League attracted an overwhelming response from teams until the organisers prepared the President 1 and President 2.
“I would like to convey my sincere thanks to all of the teams who wished to compete and provide support to VFA in together increasing the quality of football in Brunei Darussalam.”
The Vice President also shared that the VFA have plans to hold a football clinic in conjunction with Bandarku Ceria with the date to be informed later.
On the selection of teams in the leagues, Sharbini explained President 1 comprises top twenty teams from last year based on points accumulation with the remaining teams included in President 2 while the new teams are automatically included in President 2.
He also clarified the match duration of 30 minutes each for three halves which will be used in all competitions.
“We view that this is a veteran football competition to provide ease to managers and coaches to devise a strategy whereby who will be playing in the first, second and third half.
“We also view the list of 25 players which are allowed and there are nine players in the reserves who can play.
“This is also in view to provide rest in the five-minute period bearing in mind this is a veteran tournament. This year is the first time we test it and we will be finding out the outcome,” he concluded.
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