26 May 2013

Brunei set to challenge for FAM Frenz ASEAN Champion's Trophy

Sunday, May 26, 2013
BRUNEI will kick-off their Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Frenz Under-15 ASEAN Champions Trophy campaign on Saturday.

The Sultanate, to be represented by the NFABD Under-15, will go up against the visiting Frenz Indonesia in the group B of the inaugural tournament at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas at 8.15pm.

Twelve teams from eleven ASEAN countries and Timor Leste are divided into two groups of six for round robin matches played in both home and away matches.

Brunei's NFABD Under-15 and Frenz Indonesia will be joined by Myanmar Mandalay Academy, Lao Toyota Academy, Philippines Global FC Under-15, and Frenz Malaysia B.

Meanwhile, group A is made up of Frenz Malaysia A, Singapore NFA, Vietnam PVF Academy, Phnom Penh Crown Academy, Thailand Chonburi Academy and Timor Leste U-15s.

The May 25-Sept 8 tournament, which is the brainchild of the FAM Deputy President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and the Frenz United Football Academy of Pahang, Malaysia offers a grand prize US$50,000 to the champions, while, US$25,000 will go to the runners-up.

"In supporting the vision of FAM in promoting and developing football at the grassroots level, we are pleased to announce that Brunei will be participating in the FAM Frenz Under-15 ASEAN Champions Trophy for the first time this year," said Pehin Datu Indera Sugara Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Hj Mohammad Yusof Abu Bakar, the NFABD vice-president, during the tournament's press conference at the Jurys room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium yesterday.

Brunei was scheduled to play Lao Toyota FC from Laos at Chaoanouvong Stadium in Vientiane yesterday for their first match. However, due to unavoidable circumstances, the match had to be postponed to a later date yet to be announced by the organising committee.

"There were some complications regarding our opening match in Laos. But we have sorted it out and now we will welcome a team from Indonesia (Frenz Indonesia) on Saturday," said the NFABD vice-president.

"On behalf of NFABD, I would like to call all the football fans nationwide to give their full support and encouragement to our team during the tournament," he added.

Twenty players have been selected by head coach Liew Chuan Fue for the tournament. The list of the players comprised of two goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and four stikers.

"Most of the players are students from schools in the country, while some of them are from the local football team Projek Ikan Pusu (PIP)," NFABD Secretary General Mohd Nor Hj Abdullah told The Brunei Times yesterday.

"The decision to join the tournament was rather last minute as we were only come to know about it earlier this month. However, we managed to prepare the team in as series of friendly matches for the tournament," he added.

The top two of each group in the tournament will progress to the semi-finals, to be contested over two home and away legs. The two legs of the grand finals are slated for August 24 and September 1. The football fans in the country and the general public are invited to watch the matches throughout the tournament and entrance to all games are free of charge.

The Brunei Times

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