| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI Darussalam national under-21 team are looking forward to their opening fixture against Timor Leste in Group ‘A’ of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy for ASEAN Youth Football Tournament 2018 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium tonight.
The host nation will be hoping to lay a marker as Group ‘A’ leaders in their second meeting against Timor Leste in the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy having won the first match in 2012.
With group rivals Thailand and Myanmar, both sides who have refused to be considered favourites, only due to play a day later, three points will be a welcoming boost for the hosts.
“For the host nation Brunei Darussalam, we are looking forward for the 2018 HBT and if you’re asking me how eager we are looking forward for the HBT, it is fair that Brunei without exception is well prepared training-wise,” said team manager Zahrin Haji Zunaidi.
“We are looking forward for the opening match between Brunei and Timor Leste. If you ask me how eager we are, of course the atmosphere will be an advantage for us being a host.
“I would say the other teams representing their flags could have the same notion and attitude as us towards the game,” the manager said.
Timor Leste manager Gelasio Da Silva Carvalho will be treating the competition to heighten their preparations for the Asian Games in Jakarta this August.
“It is important (the tournament) for Timor Leste because there is the Asian Games in August and this tournament serves as a benchmark for us to measure the young under-21 players for the future.
“The team will be preparing for the Asian Games and we will be meeting strong teams in Group ‘A’,” said their manager.
Brunei also have their reasons on the importance of the tournament as the team featured 10 players who are preparing for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Under-19 tournament.
“It is a good experience for them and a good preparation for the next tournament,” said head coach Mario Rivera Campesino.
The Brunei manager said that the national squad featured players who already gained experience at under-16 and under-19 levels as well as the under-23 SEA Games.
“I do agree both from Timor Leste and Myanmar that this is a good platform for each of the countries to proceed to go much further as long as there is continuous training and support by each of the nation especially in the game of football,” Zahrin said.
“I think we will see more of these players in the future when they turn 22 or more than that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Myanmar manager Than Toe Aung elaborated that each team carries its own target of becoming a champion adding that the team is also preparing for the 2019 SEA Games.
Two-time winners Thailand have also insisted that they are not the firm favourites despite the absence of other strong teams. “I cannot say we are favourites but we will do our best in the matches.”
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