Segala Brunei→banar banar semua ada bah!⤴︎

The growth of football in any nation hinges not only on the talent of its players but also on the bedrock of support and advocacy that underpins the sport’s development. Beyond the pitches and the stadiums, football thrives when there is a collective effort from all quarters, ranging from grassroots enthusiasts and local clubs to national governing bodies. The multi-faceted support and advocacy network serves as the lifeblood of the sport, nurturing emerging talent, fostering community engagement, and propelling the nation’s footballing aspirations to greater heights. When it comes to football, Brunei is an emerging nation. To address the current state of the sport effectively, one crucial avenue is to bolster grassroots development. As the national governing body overseeing all football matters in the country, the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) has undertaken initiatives to foster grassroots football, including organising events such as the Under-12 Build the Future Tournament and the Grassroots Under-12 Inter-District Football Tournament. In late August, Projek Ikan Pusu (PIP) sent their under-13 and under-15 teams to engage in friendly matches against teams from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in Malaysia. PIP head coach Haji Omar bin Haji Jamil said, “As a grassroots football development programme, PIP continuously seeks to improve ourselves to meet the challenges facing Brunei football today.” ![](https://media.everythingbrunei.com/public/_awbccm1BbBaJLEOnFw3p-ilWxVMQp3Uh05QCL-cOdX.jpeg) Projek Ikan Pusu head coach Haji Omar bin Haji Jamil speaks to players. PHOTO: PROJEK IKAN PUSU As countries that were once on par with Brunei elevate their standards, there is a sense of urgency to enhance the Sultanate’s efforts. Haji Omar said that Brunei is regrettably falling behind fellow ASEAN nations in grassroots and youth football, facing formidable challenges at every level of competition. “This is the unfortunate reality we confront today,” he said. “We can only hope for the future. And our future is with the children and youth. We cannot just depend on FABD to guide our growth.” He believes that PIP must adopt a more proactive and creative approach to advance further. However, it’s crucial to emphasise that they require support, collaboration and comprehension from all quarters – not just the national organisation alone. “There’s a common misconception in Brunei that children have an abundance of time, but in reality, time does not wait for anyone,” said the head coach. He pointed out a generational shift within the programme as the initial batch of players who joined when it was launched are now fathers, and their children are currently part of PIP. Despite its 22-year history, PIP acknowledges the importance of nurturing these young talents as they represent the future. However, neighbouring countries, benefiting from strong support from their national associations, have made significant strides. During their visit to Kota Kinabalu, the PIP players displayed admirable discipline and acted as young ambassadors, further strengthening the already warm relations between Brunei and Sabah. This excursion marked the second friendly tour of the grassroots programme this year, following their earlier trip to Labuan in February. In the triangular series, the under-13 team emerged victorious, while the under-15 team secured the runner-up position. Haji Omar said, “We can categorically say that we have improved since most of the players also went to Labuan. “We can also see the effect during our training over the months following Labuan.” Despite the improvement, the head coach voiced his concerns as other countries are “speeding past us” adding that “nothing will change unless we change”. To address this situation, Haji Omar said it’s imperative to recognise that a free grassroots programme like PIP has its limitations. What they truly require is the unwavering support of the national association, coupled with a deep understanding of their specific needs. Moreover, it’s important to highlight that nowadays, it’s not uncommon for teenage players to earn caps for their national teams and regularly participate in domestic leagues. The conventional approach of talent identification schemes up to the age of 17 is now obsolete. In the current landscape, players as young as 17 are already making appearances in senior national teams in other regions. “Times have changed. If you are good enough, you are old enough, identification should happen at the grassroots and built up to 12 years. If you do not show talent at 12, then we can only groom you for football for all. “Elite athletes should be given specialised training and that should be undertaken at the FABD level. After all, they have the best facilities and the best coaches.” When considering the impact, it’s worth drawing a comparison between the proactive efforts of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Sabah Football Association (SAFA), with their dedicated focus on Tunas Asas Bola Sepak Sabah (TABS) – a nationwide initiative aimed at nurturing the future of Malaysian football. In contrast, Brunei’s football academies primarily rely on independent entities, private organisations, and volunteers. The disparity between the two approaches is quite striking, akin to comparing chalk and cheese. Malaysia, in this regard, operates with a more systematic and scientific approach. Despite both Brunei and Malaysia launching grassroots development programmes two decades ago, Malaysia has made substantial strides, significantly outpacing Brunei’s progress. While some might attribute this difference to Malaysia’s larger population, it’s crucial to recognise that Brunei’s athletes possess comparable talent, determination and passion for football. This was evident in PIP’s performance against Kota Kinabalu, which is indeed an accomplishment in itself. Malaysia boasts numerous TABS academies throughout the nation, continually producing emerging young stars. As an inclusive organisation, PIP welcomes and offers ample opportunities to new players interested in advancing and thriving in the realm of football. “Our aim is to firstly instil interest in football. We do not turn away anybody. We try our best to give every child who wants to play football the opportunity to do so. “Nobody is turned away just because they are poor and unable to afford fees. PIP has succeeded in this regard,” said the Haji Omar. The football grassroots development programme has garnered recognition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for its exceptional contributions to grassroots football. Haji Omar’s achievements underscore this acknowledgement, as he secured second place in the AFC Best Youth Coach 2019 category and received the Special Merit for the AFC Best Grassroots Leader Award 2019. Additionally, PIP Manager Cheah Swee Ming’s outstanding efforts earned him the AFC Best Grassroots Leader 2018 Award. Haji Omar concluded with emphasising the crucial need for unwavering support of grassroots football at every level, not only from the FABD but also from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as well as the Ministry of Education. – Fadhil Yunus

Segala Brunei→banar banar semua ada bah!⤴︎

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