The national futsal team will be
competing at the Oct 19-27
ASEAN Football Federation (AFF)
Futsal Championship 2013 in
Bangkok, Thailand. The team,
who have been drawn in Group A
with hosts Thailand, will
leave on Thursday. Picture:
Courtesy of Hj Bujang Hj Jaafar
The national team will be facing a difficult task at next week's ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Drawn alongside defending champions Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Philippines in Group A at the Oct 19-27 tournament, the national team will need to be at their best if they are to provide a fight.
Thailand remain the team to beat after being the only country to win the tournament since its introduction in 2001, defeating Vietnam 9-4 in the final last year.
Though the team's coach, Hj Md Yunos Hj Md Yusof, was unavailable for comment, the team's representative had no doubt that Brunei face an uphill task in Thiland.
"It is a very tough draw for us," he said.
"Thailand are the defending champions and Vietnam and Malaysia are strong too.
"But this team has been practicing and playing for a year now... They are very ambitious and they've got a big heart to win.
"We hope that everything will go well for us, and we also need support and prayers from the football fans in the country," added the representative, who wished to remain anonymous.
The national team will be leaving the country on Thursday.
Brunei will kick-off their campaign with a match against the Philippines at the Bangkok Thonburi University on October 19.
They will play their second game against Malaysia at the same venue on the next day.
They will face hosts Thailand on October 21 before ending their campaign against Vietnam the following day.
Group B consists of Australia, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Myanmar and Laos.
The semi-final and final matches will be held on October 27.
It was a nightmare for the national futsal teams at the previous edition of the tournament last year - which was also held in Thailand - after they conceded 43 goals in four matches.
The Sultanate started their campaign with an 8-6 defeat to Laos before a stunning 22-0 loss to hosts Thailand.
They then lost their third match 9-2 to Indonesia before recording their only win of the tournament by going past Timor Leste 5-4.
Brunei's best performance at the tournament was in the 2005 and 2008 editions which were also held in Thailand.
Brunei progressed to the semi-finals in both instances but lost out on bronze to Indonesia in 2005 and Malaysia in 2008.
