Good support for ASEAN Youth football tournament
By James Kon

The Under-21 ASEAN Youth Football Championship to vie for the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy received an enormous boost, with some $160,000 worth of support in cash and kind from sponsors. A ceremony took place at the Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong yesterday, during which members of the local private sector presented sponsorship of various kinds to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Dato (Dr.) Hj Awg Hussain to cover part of the expenses needed to organise the tournament.

Earlier, the minister conveyed his heartfelt thanks and appreciation to His Majesty the Sultan for financing a large part of the tournament expenditure. The concern shown by His Majesty "will be a driving force for youths to be actively involved in the development of soccer in Brunei," he added.

The pehin also thanked the sponsors for their contribution.

Representatives from some 50 companies later made their presentations to the minister, with the largest amount coming from the Brunei Shell Group of Companies - BSM, BSP and BLNG - totalling $30,000. Meanwhile, Worldwide Motor Sdn Bhd contributed a Proton Satria car worth $28,000 as a grand prize for a lucky draw to be held on the tournament final; Sunlit Advertising Sdn Bhd is sponsoring advertisements and uniform for members of the organising committee worth $30,000.

100 Plus / Coca-Cola will be the official drink for the championship.

All ten ASEAN member-countries are expected to send a team to the competition, which will take place from March 12 to 26, over three venues, namely the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, the Belapan sports complex and the JBS sports complex.

Brunei will face tough challenges from Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos in Group B during the tournament, while Group A comprises of defending champions Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin