| Khairil Hassan |
FORTY-eight athletes from the Brunei Darussalam Contingent departed to Kuala Lumpur (KL) yesterday morning for the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2017. Sixteen of them are in netball, 26 for football, three for equestrian and three are officials.
To bid the athletes farewell at the Departure Hall of the Brunei International Airport was Haji Zafri bin Haji Mohamed, Acting Director of Youth and Sports. He was accompanied by officers and staff from Youth and Sports Department, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
The Vice President of Brunei Darussalam Netball Association (BNA), Lieutenant Colonel (R) Hajah Wan Shahllimar binti Haji Suhaili was at the airport with the team and gave them some motivational talk before departure.
“We managed to get bronze last year, let’s hope we can retain it or even get better results.” The Vice President told the Sunday Bulletin.
The Acting Vice President of the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) Haji Madli bin Mohd Yussof; Acting Secretary General Pengiran Md Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud; Technical Director Yvon Avry and other NFABD staff were present to bid the national football team farewell.
During his speech to the players before they left, Haji Madli advised them to always be on their best behaviour while at the Malaysian capital and do their best to make the country proud.
“I told them to be full of confidence and try their best to fight for Brunei,” he said.
“Uphold the country’s good image and always stay disciplined.
“Put the training that you have been going through during practice into use when playing these matches, and it is very important they take good care of themselves and their health.”
The team has been training since January for the SEA Games and entered centralised training in March.
Kwon Oh-son’s men will face hosts Malaysia on Monday, Myanmar on Friday, Laos on August 21 and close their Group A campaign against Singapore on August 23.
The country is sending 105 athletes and 67 officials to the Games which will run from August 19 to 31, participating in 14 sports; Aquatic (Synchronised Swimming), Athletic, Badminton, Cycling, Equestrian (Endurance, Jumping and Polo), Fencing, Football, Golf, Karate, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Pencak Silat, Takraw and Wushu.
The third and fourth contingent will be departing for Malaysia on August 14 and 16.
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