By Fadhil Yunus
The first batch of the Brunei Darussalam national under-17 team left for Uzbekistan yesterday to take part in the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers.
The Young Wasps will begin their campaign against designated group hosts Uzbekistan in Group ‘J’ on October 5 at the JAR Stadium in Tashkent.
The national under-17 team will also play against Sri Lanka on October 7 at the Pakhtator Central Stadium before concluding their group stage phase against South Korea two days later.
The country’s football governing body Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) has also announced the 23-member strong squad.
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak ‘Abdul Haseeb bin Pengiran Maharaja Setia Laila Diraja Sahibul Irshad Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Rahim has been selected as a central midfielder.
The goalkeepers are Awangku Mohd Dzul Ikram bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Yussof; Mohd Danish Atullah bin Mohd Riduwan; and Nur Muhammad Adi bin Halim.
The defenders are Awangku Irfan Hazim Pengiran Mohammad Saiffol Noor Azhren; Mahmud Khalish Haji Md Zaifulizham; Mohd Irfan bin Mohd Ikhwan Chin; Awangku Muhd Arshrul Irfan bin Pengiran Amirrulzam; Md Danial Hakimi bin Haji Rosmadi; Md Danish Firdaus @ Hadi Syazwan bin Roddy Suhardy; Muhd Abdul Raziq bin Haji Awang Saiful Faisal; and Muhammad Kasyful Nurhilmi bin Eddy Eswaddi.
Joining Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak ‘Abdul Haseeb in midfield will be Md Zarif Muzaffar bin Abdul Hana Rizal; Safwan Zawawi bin Sazalee; Muhd Abdul Hakimee bin Ahmad Hamzah; Awangku Hadi Aiman bin Pengiran Hamizal; Mohd Azrin Danial bin Haji Mohd Yusra; Md Danish Aiman bin Sahrizul; Ayden Azhar Mccarthy; Awangku Muhd Irfan Hakim Pengiran Haji Bolkiah; and Awangku Md Syafiq Hilmi bin Pengiran Md Shahrom. The team has one recognised striker in Mohammad Adrian Zizry bin Mohd Nor Khairi.
The team will be led by Admirulrizal bin Arbi as Head Coach, while Team Manager Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Ibrahim will lead the delegation, assisted by Assistant Team Manager Morni bin Haji Zakaria.
FABD President Pengiran Haji Matusin bin Pengiran Haji Matasan sent the team off at the Brunei International Airport. FABD Deputy President Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin; FABD Acting Secretary General Dinie Haji Abu Bakar, FABD executive committee members; and FABD secretariat members were also present.
Meanwhile, the second batch of the Brunei Darussalam national under-17 team is scheduled to leave the country tonight.
