Managing Director of Sunlit Advertising Sdn Bhd, Jackson Ting, was appointed as the chairman of the sponsorship committee for the 5th Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy for ASEAN Youth Football Championship yesterday.

This was revealed prior to the closed door meeting for the sponsorship committee organised by the Ministry of Culture of Youth and Sports (MCYS) at the Conference Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

Ting was appointed by MCYS Permanent Secretary Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar, who is also the chairman of the tournament's committee. MCYS added that the signing of the tournament's official merchandise will be held today at the Lecture Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

Brunei, as hosts of the tournament, were given the option of choosing which group to be drawn in during the draw ceremony on July 12. The defending champions are in Group B alongside Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Indonesia, the 2002 champions, were then drawn into the same group on Tuesday after confirming their last minute entry on Sunday.

Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Timor Leste and two-time champions Thailand make up Group A. The tournament will kick off with three matches on Aug 8. Indonesia and Malaysia will be the first to see action as they face off in Group B at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex at 4pm.

Two Group A matches will be held simultaneously at 8.15pm. The Philippines will take on Laos at the Berakas Sports Complex while Myanmar will go head-to-head against Thailand at the Balapan Track and Field. The Sultanate will kick off their title defence against Cambodia at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas on Aug 9.

They will play Indonesia on Aug 11 before lacing up against Singapore two days later. They next lock horns with Vietnam on Aug 16 before ending the group stage against Malaysia on Aug 18.

Courtesy from Brunei Times