Curtin footballers eager to put up a good fight in inter-varsity tournament

Miri – 22 May 2015 – – Despite losing their first match against Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB), Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia’s (Curtin Sarawak) football team is eager to put up a good fight in their upcoming match against Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) at the BIBD At-Tamwil University Cup (BIBD At-Tamwil Unicup) tonight.

This is the second inter-varsity football tournament held in Brunei. It is jointly organised by the country’s Ministry of Education; Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports; and Ministry of Home Affairs, and is sanctioned by National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD).

Other institutions of higher learning competing in the tournament are University Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College (KUPUSB), Politeknik Brunei, Cosmopolitan College of Commerce and Technology, International Graduate Studies (IGS) College, Micronet International College (Micronet) and Laksamana College of Business (LCB). Curtin Sarawak is the only non-Bruneian institution participating.

UBD, ITB, UNISSA, Politeknik Brunei and Curtin Sarawak are in Group A of the tournament, while group B comprises KUPUSB, LCB, Cosmopolitan College, Micronet and IGS College.

Forming the Curtin Sarawak team are 20 players from its Faculty of Engineering and Science and Faculty of Business and Humanities. The team is being managed by sports and recreation officers Vince Untai and Mohd. Shahrizan Bin Zaini, and coached by Edward Banga with the assistance of Associate Professor Sharul Sham bin Dol of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

The BIDB At-Tamwil Unicup kicked off simultaneously at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Berakas Sports Complex and the Royal Brunei Recreation Club football field on 17 May and will continue until 13 June.

The tournament has had a good attendance record with a total of nearly 30,000 supporters attending the 24 matches played in previous years. The 2013 finals saw some 13,000 supporters showing up for the match.

A symbolic send-off for the Curtin Sarawak team by Chief Operating Officer Kingsley Francis Charles was held at the university’s football field recently. Addressing the team, he said that discipline would be the most significant element for the team apart from winning the cup. He also expressed his hopes that the team will do the university proud by showing good sportsmanship on and off the field.

His sentiments were echoed by assistant coach Dr. Sharul Sham who stressed that Curtin Sarawak’s participation in the tournament is a great responsibility, seeing as it is the only university representing Malaysia.

He added that the team is looking forward to make a momentous impact in the tournament, having been preparing for it by playing friendly matches with Shell Miri and Technip, whereby Curtin Sarawak won both games 4-1 and 2-0, respectively.

The team, managers and coaches with Chief Operating Officer Kingsley Francis Charles (centre).