BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (7 Dec 2011) – Brunei are using the Borneo Games this week to polish the squad for the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy which they will host in February 2012.
The Borneo Games this year is in Samarinda, Indonesia.
“Two-touch passes and fast play fast thinking, fast movement, fast tempo,” said Kwon Oh Son, the chief coach of Brunei. “We need to play quick on the attack, and when we lose the ball, pressure our opponents straight away to regain possession.
“The first thing they need to do when they lose the ball is pressure the second is to get others to cover for them in case they’re out of position. For example if the right-back moves up and can’t track back down, the centre-back has to cover him. The team have to be balanced.
“We’ve been training since September, their hearts are really into this competition. Their mentality is great and the team all feel like we are on a mission.”
Among the teams that Brunei will be up against in Samarinda are Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan.
There are also nine invited teams that will be taking part and they are Makassar, Johor, Pahang, West Papua, Bali, Nangoh Aceh, Northern Territory of Australia, Timor Leste and Lombok.
“They are all strong teams and I think the Indonesian teams, as hosts, will benefit from their fans’ support,” added Kwon, who will have SEA Games squad players like striker Adi Said, goalkeeper Ak Omar Nur Aqammadin Pg Hj Sallehuddin and defender Mohammad Azri Zahari in his side.
The Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy is a competition for Under-21 ASEAN teams.
