AFC President His Highness Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa (L) giving a pesambah to NFABD president His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah during their meeting at the NFABD house in Berakas yesterday. BT/ Yee Chun Leong
President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah (R) and Presidnt of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) His Highness Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa (C) during the visits to the National Football Association Brunei Darussalam at NGABD house in Berakas. Picture: BT/Md Asdeny Yakub
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) wants Brunei to have a roadmap for the future and compete in more tournaments.
His Highness Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who arrived in Brunei yesterday for a two-day visit, promised to help Brunei in terms of providing technical and administrative support such as organising coaching courses, providing referees and match commissioners.
His Highness Shaikh Salman, who was part of a six-member delegation that will leave for Indonesia today, explained that the group came to the Sultanate to see how they could help Brunei.
Though the country has been actively competing in tournaments around the region since FIFA lifted its suspension on the Sultanate in May 2011 and National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) came in as the sport's governing body, the AFC head wanted to see Brunei participate in more competitions.
"First of all it is an obligation for us to come and visit," said His Highness Shaikh Salman after a meeting with NFABD president His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah and exco members at the NFABD House in Berakas yesterday.
"As discussed in the meeting, we want to support Brunei in developing the game. Hopefully to have them competing in the Asian region and have Brunei football back on track.
"What I think is how we can get them involved in participating in different competitions.
"We want to see how we can provide support in developing the game and HRH wanted to know what needs to be done to help football in Brunei.
"We got to have a roadmap on where we will be going.
"It (a roadmap) is important for any country trying to do its best in this game."
"We needed to take the first step to come over here and to make sure that we will give full support. FIFA has the same feelings and we (all) want to be considered one team.
"Such as if one friend is in need, we will be here. We will try our utmost and hope that football will be in better shape," he continued.
During the meeting, Mike Wong Mun Heng, the technical director/coach of the NFABD, presented NFABD's achievements thus far as well as their plans for next year.
Funded by the FIFA Goal Project 2, an artificial pitch and a grass pitch - both next to the NFABD House - are scheduled to be completed next year.
The National Premier League and the National Football Futsal League are set to begin next year as well.
Four national youth teams - Under-22, U-17, U-14 and U-12 - are to be prepared for both the AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) and AFC championships to be contested in 2015.
