| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI Darussalam young footballers Muhammad Danish Izz Syahmi bin Md Bahrin and Mohd Danish Ataullah bin Md Riduwan will represent the country at the global Football for Friendship (F4F) of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia.
The F4F programme, supported by Gazprom and FIFA, aims at developing youth football and a healthy lifestyle as well as promoting tolerance, open-mindedness and respect of different cultures and nationalities between children from across the globe.
Brunei Darussalam joins the programme for the first time and will participate alongside 211 other countries and regions.
Mohd Danish Ataullah, who primarily plays as a goalkeeper, will join one of the 32 International Teams of Friendship competing in the Gazprom Football for Friendship International Championship.
The friendly tournament aims to bring together children from around the world and celebrate the unifying spirit of football.
Muhammad Danish Izz Syahmi will also act as a young journalist and will report on all the local and global activities of the F4F programme as part of the International Children’s Press Centre. He will also help spread awareness on the nine values of friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour of the F4F programme.
Mohd Danish Ataullah and Mohd Danish Izz Syahmi will also participate in the Sixth Football for Friendship International Children’s Forum in Russia, which will allow the youngsters to meet their peers from other countries, share their experiences and discuss with famous footballers and journalists on how to promote key values of the F4F Programme around the world.
The F4F programme will conclude with a visit by the participating children to the Opening Ceremony and the first match of the FIFA World Cup between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on the selection of the young ambassadors, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) said, “The selection of the young ambassadors from Brunei Darussalam is an extension of our support to this unique global initiative.”
Meanwhile, Cheah Swee Ming of Projek Ikan Pusu said, “I believe this is the first time ever that Brunei Darussalam has ever been represented at the biggest sporting event in the world: the FIFA World Cup.”
NFABD Under-14 Head Coach Mohd Ikhmarol Izzat bin Haji Omar and PIP Under-14 Coach Mohd Adi Shahirol Izzat bin Haji Omar are accompanying the delegates.
Present to bid the delegation farewell at the Brunei International Airport were officials from NFABD.