Fadhil Yunus
Local grassroots football development programme Projek Ikan Pusu (PIP) will be looking to gain much-needed playing exposure when they take part in a series of friendly matches against junior teams from Labuan this weekend.
The arrangement was made following fruitful discussions between PIP Head of Delegation Haji Omar bin Haji Jamil and Ramlae bin Abdul Rashid from the Labuan Football Association (LAFA) during the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ‘A’ Coaching Diploma last year.
The friendly ties will commence with the PIP Under-13 team taking on Sekolah Sukan Negeri (SSN) Mutiara Under-13 followed by Federal Territory of Labuan Sport School Council hosting PIP Under-15 team this Friday.
The Labuan tour will continue the next day with the respective PIP under-13 and under-15 teams playing their counterparts from the Pusat Latihan Daerah Sekolah Sukan Negeri.
Haji Omar said, “The primary purpose is to ensure the continued development, progress and excellence of football in both Brunei Darussalam and Labuan.
“Our young players need this valuable exposure, both in the country, as well as abroad.”
It will be PIP’s first overseas matches of the year involving the under-13 and under-15 teams.
The involved teams have been actively training in preparation for the friendly matches.
Meanwhile, PIP Team Manager Mohammad Hairol Adiman Haji Bakar echoed his sentiments, “The friendly matches in Labuan are invaluable to give our players the experience of competing against players of the same age group in Labuan and to gauge the quality of our players versus their Malaysian counterparts.”
He continued, “These are serious sports school athletes and should prove to be worthy opponents for Projek Ikan Pusu.”
The team manager also added that the friendly matches will serve to foster closer ties and build on their existing friendship between the two neighbours through football.
Head Coach Mohammad Adi Shahirol Izzat bin Haji Omar said the team comprises players who represented the country during the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Under-16 Championship last year and the Brunei-Muara District during last year’s FABD Under-12 ‘Build the Future’ Tournament, as well as the FABD Grassroots Under-12 Inter-District Tournament.
