| James Kon |
THE young rising star of future football from Asean member countries yesterday kick off a five-day Asian Football Federation (AFC) U-14 Regional Festival of Football hosted by the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD).
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports officiated the AFC U-14 Regional Festival of Football opening ceremony at the Belapan Track and Field.
This is the second consecutive year that Brunei Darussalam is hosting the AFC U14 Regional Festival of Football following the success of last year’s.
Dr Shamil Kamal Mohammed, the AFC festival manager in his welcoming remark said, “It is the aim of AFC to provide the platform to discover talented players with the opportunity to enjoy playing football matches.
“To all the participants of the festival, besides playing in the match, you will also gain knowledge and experience as well as personal values like confidence, honesty and respect.”
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports presenting a souvenir to the Brunei team
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports presenting a souvenir to the Thailand team
Singapore team in the march pass of the opening ceremony. – PHOTOS: KHAIRIL HASSAN
The AFC festival manager highlighted that there is no champion in the festival as all teams are already winner when they decided to participate in the festival.
Dr Shamil Kamal Mohammed pointed out that AFC felt that football in Asia has a bright future. He also conveyed special thanks to the NFABD for their support and cooperation.
More than 220 young footballers and officials from Asean member countries are taking part in the festival making up 10 teams.
Group ‘A’ comprises Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and in Group ‘B’ are Timor Leste, Malaysia, Cambodia, Philippines and Laos (Match story in Page 45).
The AFC U14 Regional Festival of Football is taking place from July 26-31 in two venues namely Berakas Sports Complex and the Track and Field Sports Complex.
Members of the public are invited to watch the matches. Entrance is free.
The post AFC U-14 Regional Festival of Football kicks off appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.