NFABD begins construction USD$2.9m new technical centre, mini grandstand
The National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) recently held a Groundbreaking Ceremony to mark the construction of its new USD$2.9 million Technical Centre and Mini Grandstand that is expected to complete by year-end.
The new Technical Centre will include a mini gymnasium, medical centre, research room, conference room and auditorium, allowing football stakeholders to better manage their activities.
The Mini Grandstand will also assist with the FIFA-funded artificial field as competition venues.
The construction of the two upcoming projects came under the FIFA Forward 1.0 and 2.0, initiatives made by the world football governing body aimed at facilitating football developments and improvements across its member countries around the globe.
NFABD in a statement said that it has submitted an application for the FIFA Forward Project 1.0 and 2.0 in 2020, which was approved by the FIFA Development Committee on 22 April 2021 for the construction of a Technical Centre and Mini Grandstand.
FIFA Development Committee commended the submission from the association and considered it one of the convincing projects, to the extent of selecting NFABD as 1 out of 13 countries around the world to be the pilot member association (MA) for the FIFA Forward platform.
The team is headed by the NFABD General Secretary, with the first training being activated by FIFA on 9 June 2021.
The construction of the facilities under the FIFA Forward 1.0 and 2.0 Project is expected to allow significant improvements into the local football scene once it is ready to be used by the end of this year.
In his speech at the ceremony, NFABD President Pengiran Matusin Matasan said that the success of NFABD depends on collective and mutual efforts.
“It is apparent that all of us have a common goal, a shared purpose, that is to develop football in Brunei Darussalam to produce competitive teams in this region,” he said.
“Each one of us has our own responsibility in this journey. That is why it is vital for us to work interlinking closely together for support, in facilitation towards this Vision. I am positive that The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports and NFABD will be able to work much closer and communicate better,” he added.
Present to officially launch the groundbreaking ceremony was Brunei Darussalam’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin.
FIFA Regional Office Development Coordinator Niko Nhouvannasak, AFC Representative Nhodkeo Phawadee, Visakhan Subramanian and Victoria Koh and AFF General Secretary His Excellency Winston Lee also joined the event virtually.