Top Two in Playoffs Will Qualify to Brunei DST Premier League

The group winners of the 2017 Brunei DST Playoffs will occupy the final two spots of next season Brunei DST Premier League, Brunei's second tier, following the release of the timetable which is scheduled to start next Saturday.

Kilanas FC and Besa FC, the bottom two teams from last season's Brunei DST Premier League, vacated the Brunei DST Premier League and have been included in the playoffs as well as non-league sides Tunas FC, DSP United, MSN United FC and Hawa FT.

DSP United and MSN United both reached the final rounds of qualifying in the Brunei-Muara District Football League earlier this year which was won by newly promoted Brunei DST Super League outfits Al Idrus Junior.

The club made history after sealing back-to-back promotions having also lifted the Brunei DST Premier League title in their only season.

DSP have also already proven that they can beat Besa in the DST FA Cup last year which will serve them in good stead in their Group 'B' match-up which also feature Hawa FT.

Kilanas FC, who were only competing in the Brunei DST Super League, Brunei's  top flight, a couple of seasons ago, face the unwanted prospect of dropping out of league football as they look to overturn their misfortunes in Group 'X alongside Tunas FC and MSN United.

The way the group have been drawn showed that Kilanas or Besa have not been paired together as both look to make an immediate return to the Brunei DST Premier League.

The group winners will not be facing each other as two slots have been awarded in the second tier of Brunei football.

DSP will play Hawa on January 7 while Tunas and MSN United will meet on January 9.

If DSP win against Hawa and repeat the feat against Besa on January 11, they will go through to the Brunei DST Premier League regardless of Besa's result against Hawa on January 16.

The scenario also applies to Tunas if they win back-to-back matches with Kilanas next on their radar in January 14.

The remaining game includes MSN United - who like DSP fell in the final hurdle in the Brunei-Muara District Football League - hosting Kilanas on January 23.

All matches will be played at the Sungai Kebun Sports Complex in an 8.15pm kickoff.

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Brunei Futsal Team Drawn in Same Group as Hot Favorite Thailand

Brunei Darussalam face a daunting task in the upcoming 2016 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship after being drawn alongside 11-time winners Thailand, which will be held at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok from Januar 23-29.

The tournament ws originally supposed to be held at the end of October this year but it was postponed by the Football Association of Thailand following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Brunei face a make-or-break encounter against Timor
Leste in the opening game, their closest hope of replicating their finest result in the tournament when they sealed fourth place in the 2001, 2005 and 2008 editions.

With only three teams in Group 'A' largely caused by the withdrawal of Vietnam and Singapore, a win in the opening group game from either side could skyrocket into the semifinals given that Thailand are expected to top the group.

The only other winners in the tournament, Indonesia, have been drawn in Group 'B' alongside Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos.

The Wasps recorded their sole victory over Singapore in the last edition though the latter were returning from a 13-year absence and also matched Timor Leste despite ending in defeat.

Brunei also have memories-of their 12-2 hiding at the hands of Thailand in the previous edition.
While Brunei's full squad is yet to be released, Malaysia news agency Bernama have released the confirmed futsal squad players of the Malaysia national futsal team who will be taking part in the 13th edition of the AFF Futsal Championship.

The report highlighted that Malaysia national futsal coach Chiew Chun Yong is hoping that seven youngsters -all below the age of 22 - will be firing in all cylinders.

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