HAJI OMAR TO FOCUS ON PIP
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| Indera Sports Club (ISC) head coach Hj Omar Hj Jamil (R) giving a pre-match talk
to Projek Ikan Pusu (PIP) players before an inter-school match. Picture: Courtesy of Hj Omar Hj Jamil |
INDERA Sports Club (SC) head
coach Hj Omar Hj Jamil said he will be focusing on grassroots football this year
through the national grassroots football development programme Projek Ikan Pusu
(PIP).
Hj Omar, who is also PIP head coach and has been involved in grassroots football since PIP’s formation in 2001, insisted he will still coach last year’s DST Super League runners-up Indera but stressed that reviving the PIP project is crucial to the development of youth football in the sultanate.
“I cannot stress enough why it is important to focus on youth development, and kudos to National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) for holding more grassroots festivals and courses for this year,” said Hj Omar in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.
“NFABD won the Aspiring’ AFC President Recognition Award for Grassroots Football during the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Annual Awards in New Delhi, India, last year, and this is thanks to all the good work done by Mike Wong (NFABD Technical Director) as well as Stephen Ng Heng Seng (Tabuan Muda/national Under-23 football team head coach) over the past few years.
“We started the PIP training sessions last month and we have been collaborating with Sultan Muhamad Jamalul Alam (SMJA) Secondary School by using their field and training with their players every Friday and Sunday, and I hope this collaboration will continue throughout the year.
“SMJA Under-15 and Under-18 players have definitely proven their potential as many of their players have represented Brunei at the ASEAN level as well as the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (regional tournament for national Under-21 teams),” he added.
PIP are currently the defending champions in the Brunei Darussalam National Junior Football League Under-10, U-12, U-14 and U-16 age groups, and Hj Omar insisted that they will push for more this year.
"The basic foundation is very important, and having Coach Ng with NFABD has reassured us that the future is bright for Brunei football.
“But of course, there is still a lot of hard work ahead for all stakeholders,” he added.
Despite Hj Omar’s busy plans for youth football, the Indera main man said he is looking forward to dethroning last year’s champions Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB).
“New season means new challenges for all us, including MS ABDB,” said Hj Omar.
“MS ABDB deserved the DST Super League title last year and their third DST FA Cup trophy, but we will give them another challenge in the DST Sumbangsih Cup (the traditional curtain-raiser between the DST Super League winners and DST FA Cup champions).
“This year will definitely be a very exciting year for football, so stay tuned,” he added.
Hj Omar, who is also PIP head coach and has been involved in grassroots football since PIP’s formation in 2001, insisted he will still coach last year’s DST Super League runners-up Indera but stressed that reviving the PIP project is crucial to the development of youth football in the sultanate.
“I cannot stress enough why it is important to focus on youth development, and kudos to National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) for holding more grassroots festivals and courses for this year,” said Hj Omar in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.
“NFABD won the Aspiring’ AFC President Recognition Award for Grassroots Football during the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Annual Awards in New Delhi, India, last year, and this is thanks to all the good work done by Mike Wong (NFABD Technical Director) as well as Stephen Ng Heng Seng (Tabuan Muda/national Under-23 football team head coach) over the past few years.
“We started the PIP training sessions last month and we have been collaborating with Sultan Muhamad Jamalul Alam (SMJA) Secondary School by using their field and training with their players every Friday and Sunday, and I hope this collaboration will continue throughout the year.
“SMJA Under-15 and Under-18 players have definitely proven their potential as many of their players have represented Brunei at the ASEAN level as well as the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (regional tournament for national Under-21 teams),” he added.
PIP are currently the defending champions in the Brunei Darussalam National Junior Football League Under-10, U-12, U-14 and U-16 age groups, and Hj Omar insisted that they will push for more this year.
"The basic foundation is very important, and having Coach Ng with NFABD has reassured us that the future is bright for Brunei football.
“But of course, there is still a lot of hard work ahead for all stakeholders,” he added.
Despite Hj Omar’s busy plans for youth football, the Indera main man said he is looking forward to dethroning last year’s champions Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB).
“New season means new challenges for all us, including MS ABDB,” said Hj Omar.
“MS ABDB deserved the DST Super League title last year and their third DST FA Cup trophy, but we will give them another challenge in the DST Sumbangsih Cup (the traditional curtain-raiser between the DST Super League winners and DST FA Cup champions).
“This year will definitely be a very exciting year for football, so stay tuned,” he added.
