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Sunday, September 2, 2012

Belait kick off Brunei games campaign on right foot


The Temburong and Belait football teams prior to their match last night. Belait put on a dominating performance to win 6-2 in their Brunei Games opener at the Balapan Track & Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.Picture: Courtesy of NFABD 
 
Sunday, September 2, 2012

BELAIT kicked off their Brunei Games campaign in style with a convincing 6-2 win over Temburong in last night's tournament opener.

Adie Arsham Mohd Salleh and his younger brother Muhd Khayrun each scored a brace for Belait, with Md Shah Hafiz Kifli and Md Fakhrullah Hj Md Azanie also getting on the scoresheet at the Balapan Track & Field at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

Lacking the technique or teamwork of their opponents, Temburong fell behind as early as the fourth minute when Md Fakhrullah opened the scoring.

Muhd Marhazif Ahad evened the scores in the 24th minute but a strike from Muhd Khayrun restored Belait's lead three minutes later.

Muhd Khayrun added to Belait's advantage three minutes after the break and Md Shah Hafiz's 69th minute goal all but sealed the deal.

Poor stamina would see Temburong concede two goals in the space of five minutes when substitute Adie Arsham netted in the 75th and 80th minute.

Though Muhammad Hafiz Mahari would pull one back for Temburong in the 84th minute, it was not enough to trouble Belait coach Hj Affandi Hj Julaihi.

"I'm satisfied with our performance," said Hj Affandi.

"We did well but we need to work on our stamina more.

"It was hard because it was the first game and we didn't know much about the Temburong players.

"After the Hari Raya break we only trained for four days ... So we just went out hoping to do our best," added the Liang Lumut Recreation Club Football Team (LLRC FT) coach.

Hj Affandi admitted that the fact that more than half of the Belait team are made up of LLRC players made his job easier.

But facing defending champions Royal Brunei Armed Forces' Sports Council (MS ABDB) in their next game on Wednesday, the coach knows his players have their work cut out for them.

"We know MS ABDB are a strong team and have good stamina," he noted.

"We don't have a lot of hopes in this competition, we're just prepared to fight," he said with a wry grin.

Tonight's games will see Institutes of Higher Learning (Institut Pengajian Tinggi/ IPT) take on Brunei-Muara at the Berakas Sports Complex while the Brunei Darussalam Schools' Sports Council (MSSSBD) face the Royal Brunei Police Force Sports Council (MS PBD) at the Balapan Track & Field.

Both Group B matches are set for an 8pm kick-off.

With one extra team, Group A has Belait, MS ABDB, Temburong, Tutong and the Royal Brunei Airlines squaring off.

The top-two teams will progress to the Sept 11 semi-finals, with the final set for Sept 14.

The Brunei Times

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