ACARA FUTSAL - PSKK 2013

Wasabi red hot vs Menengah

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, April 13, 2013

WASABI FC were the big winners in yesterday's DST National Veteran Football President Cup action after easing past Menengah FC 4-0 in Group F play.

Hj Isa Herwandeo bagged a brace in the win with goals in the 17th and 30th minutes, with Hj Amirabas' strike just before half-time giving Wasabi a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into the break at the Awang Semaun Secondary School in Lumapas.

Md Nuradile scored Wasabi's last goal in the 89th minute.

The other Group F match saw Al-Idrus grab a 2-1 win over Perkasa FC thanks to goals from Ismail OKS Hj Tengah (11th) and Md Rafie Abd Majid (83rd).

Juraimi Zulkifli scored Perkasa's only goal in the 57th minute in the game held at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Secondary School in Tutong.

MIISA Utd FC and Mangellela FC also impressed yesterday after both clubs racked up wins in their respective matches, MIISA beating Pertubuhan Bolasepak Daerah Belait/Belait District Football Association (PBDB) 5-3 and Mangellela going past MBS Utd 4-2.

Shaari Hj Hassim gave MIISA an eighth minute lead before Sufri Hj Matiasin's own goal gifted MIISA a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute of their Group B match.

Liang Lumut Recreation Club Football Team coach Hj Affandi Hj Julaihi cut one back for the Belait-based side in the 42nd minute only for Kassim Jaafar to restore MIISA's two-goal cushion a minute later - before Jamat Hj Hitam made it 4-1 in the 45th minute.

Jamat grabbed his second in the 77th minute, but late goals from Hj Affandi (85th) and Haziq Hidayatullah (90th) made for a nervy end to the game at the Sg Asam Sports Complex.

Playing at the Mumong Sports Complex, Mangellela got in front after a fourth minute goal from Jaiman Kapal in their Group E tie.

Pg Abd Malik Pg Badarudin equalised from the penalty spot in the 19th minute but a barrage of three goals would ensure Mangellela a 4-1 lead to take into the second half.

Khaliq Abdullah made it 2-1 in the 24th minute, Adharuddin Md Nasiruddin set the score at 3-1 in the 34th minute and Jaiman hit his second five minutes later with MBS' Noor Ahmadi Mohd Ali scoring the game's last goal a minute after the breather.

-Jason Thomas

The Brunei Times

Rimba Star FC draw after big comeback

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, April 8, 2013

RIMBA STAR FC fought back from three goals down to salvage a 4-4 draw against Pondok 12 in Group C of the DST National Veteran Football President Cup yesterday.

Md Iswandy Hj Hamdani gave Pondok 12 the best of starts with a goal in the opening minute at the RIPAS Secondary School field in Tutong.

He doubled his team's lead in the 29th minute and completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute.

Sajulai Ahmad pulled one back for Rimba Star three minutes later and added another on the hour-mark to make it at 3-2.

Hj Zulkifli Hj Serudin gave Pondok 12 a two-goal cushion in the 73rd minute but Mohd Ali Hj Hadi struck twice in the span of nine minutes 80th and 89th to save a point for Rimba Star.

Over in Group C action, Old Stars FC and Persatuan Sang Jati Dusun (PSJD) shared the spoils after the game ended 1-1 at the Awang Semaun Secondary School field in Lumapas.

After a goalless first half, Frank Ford put Old Stars in front in the 66th minute before Ukoi Anam converted a penalty in the 83rd minute for PSJD.

XN FT outclassed IKLS Veteran FC 7-1 in their Group D matchup at the Kg Sg Asam Sports Complex, where Suni Mat Jerah notched a hat-trick after finding the back of the net in the sixth, 34th and 74th minutes.

Radiman Hj Abd Rahman (42nd and 48th minutes) and Mohd Ali Momin (16th and 90th minutes) each notched a brace in the lop-sided victory.

Mohd Safri scored the only goal for IKLS Veteran in the 22nd minute.

The competition continues when defending champions Muara Vella FC take on Pertubuhan Bolasepak Daerah Belait (PBDB) at the Mumong Sports Complex in Belait at 8:15pm on Tuesday.

The Brunei Times

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