Dayem Hj Ali (C) talking to
players during try-outs for
the Under-19 team in 2011.
NFABD yesterday confirmed
Dayem as head coach for
two upcoming regional
tournaments. Picture: BT
file
The National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam yesterday revealed that Dayem Hj Ali will be coaching the national Under-19 team in two tournaments over the space of as many months.
Brunei will see action at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Under-19 Youth Championships in Indonesia next month and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-19 tournament in Thailand in October with it being understood that two different sets of teams will be lacing up.
"NFABD wishes to announce the appointment of Dayem Hj Ali as the head coach of the national Under-19 team for the upcoming AFF and AFC Under-19 tournaments," said the national football body in a press release sent to The Brunei Times.
Dayem was also the head coach of the national Under-23 team at the 2011 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia, where the Sultanate recorded one win, one draw and three losses.
The Under-19 teams have been undergoing intensive training at the Balapan Track and Field Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas five times a week since a player selection in the middle of June - with the teams to be finalised in the coming weeks.
Joining the team as manager is Mohammad Hj Tunjang, who also manages local club Muara Vella FC.
Mohammad has had a successful track record in local tournaments after leading Muara Vella to a number of trophies in various age-group local tournaments over the past few years.
"We have been focusing on technique and skill for these past few weeks with coach Dayem," said Mohammad Hj Tunjang in an interview with The Brunei Times during Saturday's training session at the Balapan Track and Field in Berakas.
"Dayem is a very good coach. He is taking one thing at a time and he is very thorough and passionate.
"Tonight (Saturday night) all the players are doing their offensive training, which includes shooting, dribbling and others, while on other days, all players will also need to do their defensive training regardless of their position on the field.
"InsyaAllah, we will be organising a number of friendly games.
"Dayem and myself will try to get a number of teams for friendlies and we hope to face a few of the best teams in the country.
"Friendly games are very important as it will help the players to be able to get used to the real playing environment.
"Apart from that, it will also help us to clearly identify the best players for the final selection.
"Most of the players are from the clubs in the country.
"Majority of them are from the recent Telbru Under-16 league while some are from the Brunei Sports Schools and local clubs.
"It will not be easy as we will be up against the best football teams in region such as Malaysia and Thailand, but we will give our best and try to give a very good fight in the tournament," he added.
