Brunei withdraws from AFC Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Brunei is reportedly pulling out of the AFC Challenge Cup Group E qualifying meet that begins tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

According to the Brunei Times, Brunei’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports had already confirmed the Sultanate’s withdrawal, leaving host Philippines, Cambodia and Turkmenistan to dispute the berth to the Challenge Cup’s main tournament in 2014 in Maldives.

“Due to unavoidable circumstances, Brunei Darussalam is unable to participate in the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers scheduled to be held in the Philippines from March 22-26,” Brunei Times quoted permanent secretary Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar as saying.

The organizing Philippine Football Federation declined to comment on the reported pullout as apparently, it hasn’t received any notification from the concerned parties yet.

Per procedure, the federation involved, Brunei should formally inform the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which will then relay it in writing to the match commissioner, who will finally inform the PFF, also through formal means. 

The original schedule for Brunei XI pits them against the Phl Azkals on Friday, against Turkmenistan on Sunday and against Cambodia on Tuesday.

According to PFF’s media team, all matters will be discussed and finalized during the scheduled team managers’ meeting today.