Courtesy: Brunei Direct/The Brunei Times


Goals Away, As Ministry Futsal Kicks Off

Saturday, 15 January 2011

Bandar Seri Begawan - The futsal championship of the Inter Ministry Sports Festival kicked off yesterday at the Multipurpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

Two categories were contested yesterday - the Open Category taking place in the afternoon while the Veteran Category was played in the evening.

12 contingents, divided into four groups of three, competed in the Open Category.

Only matches for Group A and C were played yesterday.

The Ministry of Development sits on top of Group A, heading into the quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory over Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a 2-0 win over Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA).

MoRA, despite their loss, are also through after topping the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with a 2-0 scoreline.

The Ministry of Defence took top spot in Group C after a 1-0 win over Ministry of Finance followed by a 2-0 victory over the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR).

The Ministry of Finance also made their way into the last eight with a 2-1 win over MIPR.

The two others groups will see action today starting at 2.30pm.

Group B comprising the Minis-try of Health, Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Education (MoE) while the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) will be fighting for top honours in Group D.

It was more competitive in the Veteran Category with all matches in Group A - Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Health - ending in 1-1 draws. The group will replay tomorrow.

Group C only comprised of two teams - the PMO and the Ministry of Defence - with the latter prevailing on penalties 3-1 after a goalless draw.

The Veteran Category will continue today at 8pm.

MoRA, MIPR and MoE are in Group B while Group D comprised of MoHA, MCYS and Ministry of Development.

There is also the inclusion of the special category for futsal this year which is scheduled to kick off next Friday.

The category is open only to those holding the position of deputy directors and deputy permanent secretaries and above.

It will be played in the league format with the team that accumulates the most points declared the champion.

A total of 11 sports - futsal, 9-ball pool, 10-pin bowling, athletics, badminton, darts, netball, sepak takraw, top-spinning (gasing), tug-of-war and volley-ball being the others - will be contested in 10 different venues in the Brunei-Muara district.

The tournament is the combination of two different tournaments; the Inter Ministry Sports Championship organised by the Department of Youth and Sports under the MCYS and the Inter Ministry Sports Championship, held in conjunction with the 17th Civil Service Day, organised by the Civil Service Department under the PMO.


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