HBT dominate Majra FC in friendly

Jason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, February 16, 2012

BRACES from three players helped the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT) team to a 7-1 win over Majra FC in a friendly match last night.

The HBT team is in the final stages of preparation for the Feb 25-March 9 competition for Under-21 national sides, and last night's tie against the reigning DST Group Brunei League Cup champions was the latest in a series of friendlies.

Striker Adi Said, midfielder Md Aqmal Hakeem Abd Hamid and defender Hazwan Hamzah each scored two goals with midfielder Md Nurikhwan Othman also getting in on the action at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

Assistant coach Hj Mohd Rosanan Abdullah Samak said that the first-11 played the first half which ended 5-0 with the second period seeing the reserves take over.

"I'm happy with the way the first-11 played ... How they created chances, converted them, passed the ball and moved," said the 1999 Malaysia Cup winner.

"But for the reserves that want to work their way into the starting 11 ... They need more time. They need to play more games but time is running out," he said, adding the team will meet Belait-based Lumut Liang Recreational Club Football Team (LLRC FT) on Friday.

Brunei start their HBT campaign against Laos next Saturday and face Singapore two days later.

The Sultanate will clash against Indonesia on Feb 29 in what will prove to be a crucial tie against the strongest team in Group A.

They then go up against 2007 runners-up Myanmar on March 3 and end the group stage against the Philippines two days later.

Titleholders Thailand meet Cambodia, Malaysia, Timor Leste and Vietnam in Group B.

A biennial event, the top-two teams in each group progress to the semi-finals which Brunei has yet to achieve.

Thailand beat Myanmar 5-4 on penalties the last time the HBT was contested in 2007.

They also saw off Indonesia to lift the 2005 edition of the trophy. Indonesia were the inaugural champions after defeating Malaysia in the 2002 final.

The Brunei Times