Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy Set To Begin
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - The stage is set for all eight teams to battle it out in the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy for Asean Youth Football Championship 2007, which will kick off tonight at 7.30pm at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

Thailand, the previous champion of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in 2005 is quite confident of retaining the trophy.

Coach Kawin Kachend.echa and assistant manager Kittipat Meesuwan said, "Our chances of keeping hold of the trophy this year is better especially since indonesia, who are considered the main threat, is not participating in the tournament.

"In the group of death (Group A) with Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, all matches are tough and all teams have chances," he said.

However, with experienced players from the Under-20 squad that took part in the Asian qualifier in India, last November, Thailand will be the hot favourite to take home the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy again.

Speaking on the team advantage, Coach Kawin Kachendecha said, "My team is good at offence and all players are equally good.

"The first game against Singapore is very important and a win will be a good boost of confidence."

Meanwhile, Team Singapore is a little bit cautious about their expectations in the tournament.

"We actually have relatively inexperienced players in the team but many have shown a lot of hard work to do their best in the tournament," said Terry Pathmanathan, the Singapore youth football team coach.

"The tournament will give the players a good opportunity to show what they can do, and we expect the team to perform their best.

"All the matches will be very difficult, and it is a matter of how the players can adapt into the international surrounding," the former Singapore national football player added.

'"It will also be a good match for the youth players, who might be promoted to the senior team in future."

Another team in Group B is Team Myanmar. "We will try our best in all the matches," team leader U Maung Win said.

"Our players are all-rounded, experienced players coming from the first division of the country's football league."

Meanwhile Cambodia, who will be facing Brunei Darussalam in the first match after the opening ceremony, is careful about their chances of winning the tournament.

"Our team has low experience but we will try to put out a good performance," Cambodia's head of delegation Mr Hut Sakada said.

He also felt that the tournament is a "good opportunity to foster friendship and exchange experience among players".

Yesterday afternoon, the managers of all the participating teams of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy for Asean Youth Football Championship 2007 met with BAFA officials in a briefing for the tournament at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

Present at yesterday's meeting were Pehin Dato Seri Paduka (Dr) Hj Awg Hussain bin Pehin Dato Laila Utama Hj Awg Mohd Yusof, the President of BAFA, and other members of the association. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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