KUALA LUMPUR – Brunei have withdrawn from the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 in Singapore over “complications” brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, said the Asean Football Federation (AFF).
In a statement posted on its official website, the AFF said the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) had informed the federation that it would be sitting out the tournament.
The team was slated to play the Qualification Round against Timor Leste on December 1, but the match was axed due to the announcement.
This also means that Brunei have completely forfeited the participation from the cup this year.
AFF President, Major General Khiev Sameth, said the federation understood Brunei’s explanation, adding he empathised with the team over the decision.
“We know that the Asean region has been hard hit by the pandemic and are all striving to overcome the challenges in various ways,” Sameth said in the statement.
“While we will miss seeing the Brunei National Team in action this year, we know they will come back stronger than before and look forward to their participation in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, FABD president Pengiran Matusin Pengiran Matasan, said he was disappointed that Brunei is unable to compete for the cup.
However, the Brunei team president did not elaborate on the issues that plagued the team.
“The pandemic has, unfortunately, had far-reaching effects on our team’s preparations for the tournament,” Pengiran Matusin said in the same statement.
“While all efforts have been put forth to resolve the difficulties, it proved to be too complicated at this late juncture.
“We wish AFF all the success for the upcoming tournament and look forward to joining the competition once again in the next edition.”
Due to the pandemic, the tournament – initially scheduled for November 23 until December 31 last year – was pushed to April 11 until May 8 this year before it was postponed again to between December 1 this year and January 1, 2022.
With Brunei’s withdrawal, Timor Leste will now join Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar and the Philippines in Group A for the cup’s main draw on December 5 at the National Stadium in Singapore Sports Hub. – The Vibes, November 8, 2021
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