Hj Mohd Zamri Dato Paduka
Hj Hamdani (Top), the Deputy
Director II of the Youth and Sports
Department, and Dato Paduka Hj
Abdul Rahman Hj Mohiddin
(Above),the president of the
NFABD. Pictures: BT/ Wardi
Buntar

Meeting yesterday that it will launch a Football Talent Identification (TID) programme next month.

Aimed at selecting the best Brunei footballers for national teams to present the country at the 2017 and 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the programme will start on June 6.

The NFABD also said that to help develop young footballers in the country plans are already in place to start a "grassroots league" soon and "a youth league for Under-16 players in September".

Present at the meeting held at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas were Hj Mohd Zamri Dato Paduka Hj Hamdani, the Deputy Director II of the Youth and Sports Department, and Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Rahman Hj Mohiddin, the president of the NFABD.

"The SEA Games football competition is for Under-23 players so we will be looking at players born in 1993-1996 or from the ages of 14 to 17," Hj Mohd Zamri announced at the meeting.

With 'sports science' playing an important support role in the programme, young athletes will have to go through a number of tests on body composition, flexibility, balance, muscle endurance, coordination, speed, power, agility, muscle strength, reaction and cardiovascular.

Agreeing that sports science is an important factor in the programme, Dato Hj Abdul Rahman, however, added that scouts/ coaches also must fulfil their roles.

He said players must be observed to identify "where the talent is".

"Coaches should come down to football matches like those in the DST National Football League to observe young players with skills and talent," said Dato Hj Abdul Rahman.

"Then, we can then look at the physique, agility and speed."

He added that the association was planning to kickstart a grassroots league soon and the Under-16 national league in September to help develop young footballers in the country.

The Football TID programme will be held in all four districts with the Kuala Belait event on June 11-12 (at Padang Bandaran).

The programme will then continue in Seria to be held at the AAC Sports Complex on June 13-14.

In Tutong, it will be held at the Youth and Sports Department's Sports Complex on June 22 and June 24.

Temburong will hold its TID programme on two separate dates on June 6 and June 29 at the Hassan Bangar Primary School.

Brunei-Muara, meanwhile, will hold the programme in two phases from June 6 to June 8 at the Sengkurong Primary School and at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium from July 13 to July 16.

Courtesy from Brunei Times