By Jason ThomasThe Brunei Times
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Sunday, June 20, 2010
CAMBODIA and Laos will be facing a different kind of threat when they take on Brunei in the 2010 HSBC Asian 5 Nations Regional Tournament; a triple threat.
Brothers Syaihan Hj Abu Bakar, 27, Abdul Azim, 23, and Dinnie, 22, will be the first trio of siblings to represent the country in a rugby tournament, suiting up for the national team in the week-long competition which kicks-off today with their match against hosts Cambodia at Phnom Penh's Old Stadium at 4pm.
Though sibling teammates are nothing new when it comes to Bruneian sports — football's Hardi and Mardi Bujang, karate's Md Fadillah and Md Fida'iy Hj Sanif and wushu's Isa and Ismi Bismi spring to mind — the Hj Abu Bakar brothers are in rarified company with pencak silat's Norleyermah, Norleyharyanti and Norleydiana Hj Raya. The Hj Raya sisters have all proven themselves in the international scene but that is not the case with the brothers who play for league and cup champions Knights Football Club — of which their father is the president.
He might be the youngest but Dinnie is the most experienced of the trio, the inside centre is also the prodigious captain of the Knights.
Syaihan and Abdul Azim are making their debut in the national team, and though they may lack international exposure, their passion and pride is something that is not up for question.
"I am really excited to be playing with my siblings," said Syaihan when met during the team's departure at the Brunei International Airport on Friday.
"Our dad's very proud and so are our friends. We want to do the best for Brunei and I hope we can make the country proud.
"We have an understanding even when we used to play other sports like football," added Syaihan.
Dinnie was concerned about how his brothers might fare in their first match for the national team but insisted there would be no favouritism.
"We will have to look out for each other. They are all my brothers, the whole team," said Dinnie, adding that he hoped they could return with the trophy.
Soft spoken Abdul Azim had nothing to say other than that he was proud to be picked for the team.
"I was happy when I got the call up. I just want to do my best," he said.
Coming from a family which has always been involved in sports, the trio's selection was welcoming news for their father.
"They have made me proud by following in my footsteps and representing the country," said Hj Abu Bakar Abdullah, who used to fly the flag for Brunei in taekwondo and silat from 1986 to 1993.
His daughter has also seen action in the national fencing team.
Brunei follow up today's game against Cambodia with a match against Laos on Wednesday.
Cambodia and Laos do battle in the final match next Saturday.
Cambodia's newly appointed coach Richie Flanagan revealed that he knew little of Brunei, having seen them play only once last year.
"They have a big, formidable pack," he said in Friday's edition of the Phnom Penh Post.
"Man for man, they probably have a bigger side. They'll be tough to beat.
Ray Leos, acting secretary general of the Cambodian Federation of Rugby, mirrored the coach's comments.
"Brunei will be very physical, and it just depends on if their backline is serviceable," he said.
"Based on past performances, Laos should be considered the slight favourite," he added.
Brunei faced the same opponents in the previous edition of the tournament last March in Savannakhet, Laos, with mixed results.
They beat Cambodia 21-10 for the first time in three tries but were on the losing end of a 28-8 scoreline during their match against the hosts before the match was abandoned because of a blackout in the 8th minute of the second half.
Last year's other result was a 8-3 result for Laos against Cambodia, meaning they were crowned champions of the event.
The HSBC Asian 5 Nations' Premier Division consist of Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Hong Kong and the Arabian Gulf.
The four lower leagues each have four teams, and winners of each tournament gains promotion in the next division at the expense of the last-placed team.
The Southeast Asia Regional Tournament meanwhile is the lowest leg of the competition and does not offer promotion or relegation.
Instead, it is aimed at fostering competition and development among Asian countries.
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