PFF respects Brunei's decision

 

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, March 24, 2013

THE Philippines Football Federation (PFF) have said it "respects" Brunei's decision to pull out of the ongoing Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup Group E qualifiers in Manila.

Brunei surprised the Asian football community when it withdrew from the four-team; qualifiers in the Philippine capital on Tuesday, citing "unavoidable circumstances" for the decision.

Though the choice has largely been met with rebuke by Filipino media, and the AFC has stated it is looking at possible suspensions and fines, PFF's general secretary insists there are no hard feelings about the 11th hour decision.

"It is unfortunate that our football friends from Brunei are no longer participating in the tournament," said Atty Edwin Gastanes in an e-mail to The Brunei Times on Friday.

"We will surely miss Brunei and we hope to be able to play with them someday.

"It would've been exciting to have all the teams in Group E complete in all the matches.

"PFF has left no stones unturned to make their stay in the Philippines pleasant and memorable.

"The Philippines Azkals and Filipino fans were really looking forward to playing against them on the first match day. The PFF in the end respects the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam's decision to withdraw from the competition," he added.

Brunei only informed the Philippines of their withdrawal a day before they were set to face the hosts in Friday's tournament-opener, a move which came as something of a shock to Gastanes.

"They even asked for early arrival and the Philippines as hosts obliged and made arrangements," Gastanes was quoted as saying on GMA News Online.

Brunei have found the Philippines to be equal punching partners in the past, with the two countries playing out a 1-1 draw during the 2008 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup qualifiers in Cambodia and hosts Philippines taking a 1-0 win at the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers .

Two-time Challenge Cup finalists Turkmenistan proved they are the team to beat in this week's Group E qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Stadium after blasting past Cambodia 7-0 in Friday's opener.

The hosts take on Cambodia today, with the last game pitting Turkmenistan against the Philippines in a winner-takes-all scenario on Tuesday.

Brunei were to play the Philippines on Friday, Turkmenistan today and Cambodia on Tuesday with AFC awarding 3-0 wins to all of Brunei's opponents.

The 20-team qualifiers are divided into four groups of five, with the group winners and two best runners-up advancing to next year's tournament proper in the Maldives.

The Brunei Times

'Brunei will be punished'

Lawyer Edwin Gastanes of the Philippine Football Federation announces the withdrawal of Brunei from the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers for Group E during a news conference on Thursday in Manila, Philippines. Picture: AP

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, March 23, 2013

BRUNEI will be punished for their last-minute withdrawal from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup Group E qualifiers in Manila.

Citing "unavoidable circumstances," the Sultanate pulled out of the March 22-26 tournament on Tuesday, informed AFC on Wednesday and the Philippines Football Federations (PFF) on Thursday.

In an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday, AFC said that the body is investigating the matter.

"We will definitely take action and we are currently looking into it," said an AFC spokesperson in a telephone interview yesterday.

"We received the official letter regarding the withdrawal on Wednesday, and in the letter, it was stated that Brunei regrets it is unable to participate in the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup Group E qualifiers due to unavoidable circumstances.

"We have received calls from countries, especially from the Philippines following the event.

"There will be changes in the overall qualification process which is very complicated," added the spokesperson who is based at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The Sultanate were to play hosts Philippines yesterday, Turkmenistan tomorrow and Cambodia on Tuesday.

Brunei's withdrawal has created complications in the overall qualification process, particularly in the computations for the slots allotted for the two best runners-up in all the five group qualifiers.

However, AFC have decided to award 3-0 wins to all of Brunei's opponents which will no doubt affect the country's FIFA rankings.

Turkmenistan raised the curtains with a 7-0 whipping of Cambodia yesterday, with the next match pitting Cambodia against the Philippines tomorrow. The last game will see Turkmenistan face the Philippines on Tuesday.

The 20-team qualifiers are divided into four groups of five, with the group winners and two best runners-up advancing to next year's tournament proper in the Maldives.

The AFC Challenge Cup Maldives 2014 regulations also make for some more bad news for Brunei, who will be forced to sit the next edition out as well as pay fines.

The AFC Challenge Cup Maldives 2014 regulations' Section 3:20 (c) states that "a participating member association (that) withdraws after entering or does not report for a match at any stage of the competition will be disqualified from taking part in the next edition of the competition."

AFC Executive Committee may extend the suspension depending on the gravity of the situation and/or damages.

The regulation book goes on to explain that AFC only make exceptions in cases of force majeure or superior force (events such as earthquakes, floods and hurricanes) recognised by the AFC Competitions Committee.

Section 3:20 (c) also states that the participating member association is required to pay compensation for any and all damages or losses suffered by the other participating member associations, the AFC and AFC's commercial and TV partner(s) in case of withdrawal.

They will be referred to the AFC Disciplinary Committee for additional sanctions and fines depending on the gravity of the situation, then to AFC Executive Committee for final decision.

The amount of compensation will be determined by the AFC Executive Committee.

They will also be required to return to the AFC any financial stipends that had been paid to them by AFC throughout the competition or forfeit the right to the same.

The Brunei Times

PFF confirms Brunei exit

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, March 22, 2013

THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has confirmed that Brunei have pulled out of the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers yesterday.

It was reported by GMA News Online that the PFF was only notified by the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) through the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) match commissioners at noon yesterday.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports had confirmed with The Brunei Times on Tuesday that the Sultanate will not be at the four-team tournament citing 'unavoidable circumstances'.

The withdrawal of the Wasps was a disappointment and a surprise to everyone.

"They even asked for early arrival and the Philippines as hosts obliged and made arrangements," Atty Edwin Gatanes, PFF General Secretary, was quoted as saying.

"It's not what we wanted to happen. They have not explained to us why they took that decision," added Ebong Joson, spokesman for the PFF.

Michael Weiss, the national coach of the Philippines football team, said he could not understand the situation which would force Brunei a 'serious football nation' to pull out just one day before kickoff.

"(Their withdrawal) affects more than just our group, we can only shake our heads," said Weiss.

The other two teams Cambodia and Turkmenistan are unfazed by the withdrawal of Brunei.

They remain focused on their aim which is to qualify for the tournament proper in Maldives next year.

Cambodia head coach Prak Sovannara felt that Brunei's withdrawal does not affect their preparation while Turkmenistan's coach Yazguly Hojageldyyew said that they are just focused on their target to qualify.

Brunei were suppose to open their campaign today against the hosts in Group E action at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Azkals now have two extra days to prepare for their first game against Cambodia on Sunday followed by Turkmenistan two days later.

"That is two extra days for our Europe-based players to adjust to the heat," added Weiss.

Turkmenistan are favourites to top the group having been in the final of the AFC Challenge Cup twice before.

They have had months of training in preparations for the qualifiers as opposed to the Philippines, who have only had five to six days of training together along with a couple of mini camps in the past month.

A total of 19 teams excluding Brunei are separated into five groups vying for eight slots in Maldives.

The group winners and top two second-place finishers together with the hosts will fight for top honours.

The Brunei Times

No Brunei at Manila's AFC Challenge Cup

Jason Thomas

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

BRUNEI will play no part in this week's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup Group E qualifiers in Manila.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports yesterday confirmed with The Brunei Times that the Sultanate will not be at the four-team tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, news which is sure to come as a disappointment to local football fans.

"Due to unavoidable circumstances, Brunei Darussalam is unable to participate in the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers scheduled to be held in the Philippines from March 22-26," said the ministry's permanent secretary Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar.

Brunei were set to face hosts Philippines in their first match on Friday, taking on Turkmenistan on Sunday before ending with Cambodia next Tuesday.

Twenty teams were slated to compete the in four-team, five-group qualifiers which are to be hosted in venues across the region.

The group winners and two best second-placed finishers advance to the AFC Challenge Cup to be held in Maldives next year.

The AFC Challenge Cup is the counterpart of the Asian Cup and is a biennial event for emerging footballing countries in Asia.

The winners of the Challenge Cup North Korea in the last two instances automatically qualify for the next Asian Cup in 2015 in Australia.

The Brunei Times

Brunei set for AFC qualifiers

Shahrazen Said (L) challenges for the ball against Cambodia's Say Piseth during their Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup qualifiers in Myanmar in October. Brunei will face Cambodia in their Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup Group E qualifier next Tuesday, hosts Philippines on Friday and Turkmenistan on Sunday. Picture: BT file

Jason Thomas

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

BRUNEI will take on hosts Philippines in their first match of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup Group E qualifiers on Friday.

The Sultanate meet Turkmenistan on Sunday before closing the curtains against Cambodia next Tuesday.

Brunei's last two games against the Philippines ended in a draw and a loss, but the hosts have already termed themselves the favourites for the tie at the Rizal Memorial Stadium with one online portal brazenly predicting a 5-0 win for the Azkals.

Though the Philippines advanced to the 2012 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup semi-finals, where they were beaten 1-0 in a two-legged tie against eventual champions Singapore, their past record against Brunei suggests there is harldy anything separating the two sides in 2008 at least.

The two countries played out a 1-1 draw during the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers in Cambodia, with hosts Philippines taking a 1-0 win when they met in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers the same year.

Turkmenistan will enter the Philippine capital as favourites, the Central Asian nation finishing as runners-up during the previous Challenge Cup last March.

While Turkmenistan might be a relatively unknown opponent, the same can't be said of Cambodia who Brunei met at last year's AFF Suzuki qualifiers in Myanmar.

The country's last international tournament, Brunei beat the Cambodians 3-2 in Yangon, with the previous meeting between the two sides ending in a 2-1 win for Cambodia when they hosted the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers.

It is understood the national team are set to leave tomorrow, with the majority of the squad to be made up of DPMM FC players with coach Vjeran Simunic serving as bench boss once again.

Simunic was at the helm of the national team when they travelled to Cambodia for the 2008 edition of the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers, where the country failed to make the grade with one win, one draw and two losses.

Only the top-two teams from the five-team series in the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers progress to the tournament-proper, unlike in the AFC Challenge Cup.

The AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers have 20 teams divided into five teams battling it out, with the winners and two best second-placed finishers advancing to the competition which will be held in Maldives next year.

The AFC Challenge Cup is the counterpart of the Asian Cup and is a biennial event meant for emerging footballing countries in Asia.

The winners of the Challenge Cup will automatically qualify for the next Asian Cup in 2015 in Australia. North Korea won the last two AFC Challenge Cup titles and are now playing in the Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Brunei Times

Indera SC: Azwan not joining DPMM FC

Indera FC's Azwan Ali Rahman (R) about to kick the ball during the DST Super League ender against the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) on March 10. Picture: BT/Saiful Omar

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

INDERA Sports Club (SC) president Pg Anak Hj Mohd Yassin Pg Anak Safiuddin has dismissed reports claiming that Azwan Ali Rahman is joining the country's only professional football club, DPMM FC.

DPMM FC reported on their website on Sunday that they have acquired the services of the midfielder, who led the DST Super League in scoring last season, from the newly-crowned champions.

However, Indera's president yesterday took the step of responding directly to the claim by branding the report as false.

Calls to Azwan and DPMM FC team manager Ali Hj Momin were not answered as of press time, but Pg Anak Hj Mohd Yassin was more than willing to talk to The Brunei Times

"It is not true. Azwan is not joining DPMM FC," said the president in an interview yesterday.

"As the president of the club I can tell you that Azwan is still an Indera player.

"He is our best player and he is very talented. Why would we want to let him go?

"He was the top scorer in the league and he is very important to us.

"Whatever (the) circumstances are, we will not let Azwan go.

"I have spoken to our manager (Rosdin Hj Abdul Aziz) about it and ... DPMM FC have not approached us to sign our player.

"I have talked to the kid (Azwan) recently, and he never told me anything about leaving the club.

"Azwan and another Indera player, Hamizan Abdul Aziz, are currently training with DPMM FC but that is only because they are preparing for this week's qualifying stage of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in the Philippines," he added.

Azwan scored a staggering 17 goals in eight appearances with Indera in the first edition of the DST Super League, and his astonishing goal tally earned him the award for top-scorer during the DST Super League prize presentation ceremony at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Thursday.

The midfielder became a hero after scoring Indera's only goal in their dramatic 1-0 victory over the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) in the final day of the season on March 10 to help the club to finish as champions above MS ABDB on goal difference.

Azwan was a part of the national squad at the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup 2012 qualifiers in Myanmar in October, and he also featured in the national Under-21 team that won the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT) in March the same year where he stood out against the best regional teams with his strong play in the middle of the park.

His pace, creativity and ability to play between the lines of midfield would definitely add more creativity to the club, so adding Azwan in the team would automatically be an improvement for DPMM FC.

If the move goes through, Azwan will join former HBT teammates Adi Said (striker), Md Hendra Azam Md Idris (midfielder), Md Najib Hj Tarif (midfielder) and Md Fakhrul Zulhazmi Yussof (goalkeeper) who officially signed for DPMM FC in April.

Defender Reduan Hj Petara was also roped in from the HBT team but has since made a return to Indera. 

 

The Brunei Times

MS ABDB Football Team Emerged As runner Up

MS ABDB FOOTBALL TEAM EMERGED AS RUNNER UP

BERAKAS, Sunday 10 March 2013 - The prize presentation ceremony for the DST Super League was held at the National Stadium in Berakas.  MS ABDB football team emerged as runner-up after their thrilling match last Sunday evening which ended Indera Sporting Club winning by 1-0.

Present as the guest of honour was the Permenant Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports, YM Dato Paduka Awg Haji Abdul Hamid.  MS ABDB won the second prize with $7000 cash prize and a trophy with medals for team members.