Brunei Darussalam’s national football team look to extend their winning streak and secure a place in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 as they face Timor-Leste in the first leg of the qualification round on Tuesday (October 8).
“Our team is in good form, especially in the last few matches where we’ve kept clean sheets. The confidence is high and I believe in our players and their performance. All I ask is that we play our best, work hard, and give everything in the game. We need to stay organised, disciplined in possession, and capitalise on the chances we create,” said Brunei’s head coach Jamie McAllister during a pre-match press conference on Monday.
He added, “We’ve prepared well over the last eight days and are looking forward to the match on Tuesday. There won’t be major changes to the squad, and securing two clean sheets would be great for us.”
Acknowledging the pressure, McAllister said, “There’s always pressure due to the level of professionalism and the expectation to win. Playing at home, we need to be aggressive and aim to win the first leg. It would be fantastic to see a large crowd at the stadium. We must take our chances, and achieve a positive result.”
Reflecting on the team’s five-match unbeaten run, he said, “It’s a good achievement, but it’s in the past. We need to focus on the future, especially the match against Timor-Leste. Those last five games, with four clean sheets, provide a strong platform to build on, and we want to maintain this unbeaten run.”
McAllister admitted his team is up against a strong Timor-Leste side that recently beat Mongolia.
“They are good at keeping possession and have technically skilled players. They’re a threat, having scored four goals against Mongolia,” he said.
Meanwhile, national goalkeeper Haimie Nyaring credited teamwork for their recent defensive success. “It’s a team effort to secure a clean sheet. Before the ball reaches me, it has to get past our midfielders and defenders. I’m hopeful we can achieve another clean sheet against Timor-Leste, and I will give my best for the team and the country.”
In a separate press conference, Timor-Leste head coach Simon Elissetche Correa said they are ready for a competitive match against Brunei. “We’ve prepared well, and the players are in top condition. We know Brunei is on a winning streak, but we’ll do everything possible to get the best result heading into the second leg in Thailand.”
He added, “Brunei has a solid defence and a strong counter-attack. If we maintain the same performance we showed against Mongolia, we can produce a good result.” – JAMES KON
