| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI Darussalam’s futsal club Shah United FC left for Bangkok, Thailand yesterday to represent the country in the Asean Futsal Federation (AFF) Futsal Club Championship from July 2 to 8.
The 2016 national league runners-up have been drawn alongside Myanmar’s Pyay United, Indonesia’s Permata Indah Manokwari and Thailand’s Thai Port in Group ‘A’.
Shah United will play Pyay United today before completing their group stage against Permata Indah Manokwari on July 3 and reigning champions Thai Port on July 4.
Two-time winners Thai Port will emerge as this year’s red-hot favourites having won the competition since its inception in 2015.
Shah United have been boosted by the arrivals of two foreign players namely Anton Cahyo Nugroho and Denis Guna Bawana from BJL 2000 Shiba Semarang.
Shah United players and officials in a group picture prior to departure at the Brunei International Airport. – SHAH UNITED
Anton has previously captained Indonesia’s under-20 national team and guided them to the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Championship in May while compatriot Denis produced a man-of-the-match winning performance against former Pro Futsal League winners Black Steel Manokwari.
The team comprised of 21 players and six officials including players who have already gained experience in the Brunei Futsal League.
The experienced players included full internationals such as Nazirul Haziq bin Adeni, Abdul Azim bin Bolhassan, national team captain Maziri bin Maidin, Fakhri bin Haji Bangkul, and Abdul Khabir bin Haji Ismail.
The goalkeepers in the Shah United squad included the trio of Muhammad Arib bin Haji Umar, Syaerie Shafiqullah Suhaili and Khairul Anwar bin Haji Hamidon.
Shah United will also feature players that were selected in the under-20 national team namely Muhammad Yuzlin bin Haji Ishak, Muhammad Yusran bin Mazlan and Nizamuddin bin Haji Ismail.
The team also included Awangku Mohammad Sukri bin Pengiran Haji Jaludin, Muhammad Ulfi bin Aminuddin, Muhd Wazien Musawwir bin Haji Md Noor, Khalil bin Saab, Muhd Safwan bin Haji Mohd Safri, Md Zairul Hazmin bin Md Saifuddin, Mohammad Abi Syarillizam bin Sabtu, Mohammad Nawawi bin Haji Md Yazid and Awangku Mohd Khairul Bahri bin Pengiran Adruman.
Defending league champions Kota Junior have led the well wishes ahead of their rivals’ debut participation in regional or international level through social media as well as local futsal club Street United FT.
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