We didn't deserve to lose, says disappointed coach

Yee Chun Leong

YANGON, MYANMAR

Saturday, October 6, 2012

KWON Oh-son (pic) believes the national football team didn't deserve to lose against Myanmar last night.

A lone goal by Yan Aung Win in the 84th minute settled the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2012 qualifying tie at the Youth Training Centre in Yangon, but it was a win that the hosts had to fight until the final whistle. The national coach was expecting to at least share the spoils or even claim what would have been a famous victory over the hosts in a match that was telecast live to thousands of Bruneians back home but it was not to be. "I was quite confident we could get a positive result," Kwon told The Brunei Times after the match.

"The team put up a really good performance tonight (Friday night) and I thought we were quite unlucky (and) our opponents were lucky.

"I would like to apologise to all the supporters back home since we didn't manage to get anything out of the match," added the South Korean. His counterpart and former teammate in the South Korean national team was relieved to have escaped with the win.

"We didn't play at our best," admitted Myanmar coach Park Sung-hwa. Maybe it was because it was our first match but we will need to pick up on our defence in the next matches.

"Brunei are a strong team and they were very organised. They played well and used good speed," noted Park. Among the players who impressed for Brunei last night were midfielder Muhd Azwan Ali Rahman and left-back Sairol Hj Sahari, both of whom battled on despite being sick but were eventually substituted.

"They are not at their full potential yet I credit them for doing all they could on the field," said Brunei manager Hj Feisal Hj Eusoff.

"I'm impressed with the result especially since Myanmar were playing at home, and I hope we can keep it up.

"We all know that Myanmar are one of the best teams in the region.

"They have been playing together for a while compared to us but I thought we played well and beyond expectations tonight. This is only our first game and we will move on now. Our second game (against Cambodia on Tuesday) is an important one and we need the win." The Brunei Times