Courtesy: Borneo Bulletin


Kota Junior, Shah United live up to billing

September 06, 2016

by Fadhil Yunus

KOTA Junior and Shah United A lived up to their billing as title favourites after progressing to the second round of the Futsal Piala Keputeraan 2016 in conjunction with the 70th birthday celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex last weekend.

The newly crowned Takaful Brunei Futsal Super League winners advanced to the next round via a better head-to-head in Group D with Giovani B stunning much fancied futsal club Clea’s B to qualify into the next round after emulating the same result as the group winners.

Clea’s B stayed unbeaten in the four-team group but fell short due to an inferior goal difference.

There are no such arguments with Kota Junior arch rivals Shah United A sealing qualification after storming to the top of Group E with 7 points.

Wonderers will join them in the next round as another well-known futsal club Kheir FC sensationally crashed out of the competition.

Futsal Super League sides Street United and Rizfiz FT also enjoyed safe passage to the next round while Al Idrus FC were among the high-profiled teams enduring an early exit from the tournament.

Street United secured a pair of tightly contested victories and a goalless draw to advance as winners from Group B while league rivals Rizfiz relied on a better goal difference on seven points as winners of Group C.

Also advancing as runners-up from Group B and C are Sahabat FC and NJP FT, respectively.

Waza Under-19 completed the list of qualifiers after topping Group A with MSPDB joining them after placing second on six points.

2014 champions Arbisyam will begin their title defence against Politeknik in Group J who also have also been grouped alongside tricky PES and ABC.

League side Pega Star FT have been drawn in a Group of Death in Group F which included Syahkampong and Creativol.

First Five will also have their work cut out against a difficult trio of Brunei 88, Giovani A and LSCB A.

Group I also featured potential finalists GGFT and Red Butterfly with Silveredz and Eagle Blues capable of causing an upset.

Meanwhile in Group H, Matahari FC will undoubtedly be the strongest team while Clea’s A will be hoping to become a sole representative in the next round though they need to outwit Shah United B and JS FT.

The qualifying round continues on September 18 with the group stages reaching its conclusion.

Arbisyam were the champions in the previous edition of the tournament after defeating Ikerab FC through an Md Nuruddin strike four minutes from time.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com