The Bruneian Term For Soccer And Its Origins

Football is a popular sport in Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam. The country's national football team, nicknamed 'The Wasps', has been a member of FIFA since 1969. Football in Brunei is governed by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD), which was formed in 1956 as the Brunei State Football Amateur Association. The country's top football league is the Brunei Super League.

The name of the sport in Malay

In Malay, the official language of Brunei, the word for soccer or football is "bola sepak". This is reflected in the name of the country's national football team, "Pasukan bola sepak kebangsaan Brunei", which translates to "Brunei National Football Team".

The sport of football is extremely popular in Brunei, with the country's top football league called the Brunei Super League. The league is managed by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD), which also acts as the governing body for football in the country.

Brunei's national football team, nicknamed "Tebuan" or "The Wasps", was founded in 1959 and joined FIFA in 1969. The team has competed in various regional Asian competitions, such as the Southeast Asian Games and the AFF Championship, and has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers multiple times.

Some of the major stadiums used for football in Brunei include the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, the Track & Field Sports Complex, the Berakas Sports Complex, and the Tutong Sports Complex, among others.

The Football Association of Brunei Darussalam

In July 2021, the association rebranded, dropping the word 'National' from its name to better reflect its objective of driving innovative advancements in the sport. Along with the name change, FABD unveiled a new logo that incorporated a three-layered crescent representing the lunar stages, culminating in a full moon. Each layer of the crescent features one of the colours of the Bruneian flag. The logo also includes a green football with a honeycomb pattern, inspired by the national team's nickname, 'The Wasps'.

The FABD has a strong focus on youth development and operates several national age group programmes, including the Under-23, Under-21, Under-19, and Under-17 teams, collectively known as Tabuan Muda. The association also introduced two additional youth leagues: the Brunei Under 18 Youth League and the Brunei Under 15 Youth League.

In terms of infrastructure, the FABD has made significant strides. In 2005, the association's first goal project was approved: the construction of its headquarters in Bandar Seri Begawan, costing approximately US$1.5 million. In 2013, a second goal project was approved, involving the installation of an artificial turf pitch and a natural pitch at the headquarters for US$185,000. Additionally, in 2021, construction began on the country's first technical centre, funded by the FIFA Forward Development Programme. This facility will provide football training and match facilities for youth development, featuring a mini gymnasium, medical centre, research room, and auditorium.

The FABD also organises various football competitions and leagues, including the Brunei Super League, the Brunei Premier League, and the Brunei FA Cup. The association has faced challenges, such as the cancellation of the 2020 Brunei Super League and the 2020 FA Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the easing of lockdown restrictions, the association worked towards resuming football activities in the country.

Brunei's national football team

Football in Brunei is referred to as "soccer", and the national team is controlled by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD). The team is nicknamed "The Wasps" and was founded in 1959, joining FIFA in 1969. They have competed in the Malaysian league and cup competitions and have featured in regional Asian competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games and the AFF Championship.

The Brunei State Football Amateur Association was formed on March 15, 1956, and in 1993, the name was changed to the Brunei Football Association. The team's first appearance was during the 1972 AFC Asian Cup qualification, but they were unable to qualify. Brunei has entered the FIFA World Cup qualifiers four times (in 1986, 2002, 2018, and 2022) but has yet to qualify for the World Cup. They have had more success in other competitions, such as winning the Malaysia Cup in 1999 and the Brunei Merdeka Games trophy in 1985.

In 2009, the Brunei Football Association was suspended due to governmental interference, but they were reinstated in 2011, and the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) was formed. The team's home stadium is the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan, which has a capacity of 28,000.

In recent years, the team has had mixed results. They qualified for the 2022 AFF Championship for the first time since 1996 but failed to gain any points in the group stage. In 2024, they were invited to the FIFA Series in Saudi Arabia, where they faced opponents from outside their confederation for the first time. They lost to Bermuda but then won against Vanuatu and later extended their winning streak to three matches with friendly wins against Sri Lanka. They also qualified for the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification but failed to qualify for the 2024 ASEAN Championship.

Brunei's football clubs

Football in Brunei is run by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD). The Brunei national football team, nicknamed 'The Wasps', represents the country in international football. The team was founded in 1959 and joined FIFA in 1969.

Brunei has a number of football clubs, some of which are registered with the NFABD. These include:

Singapore Premier League

Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota (DPMM) FC, which shares the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium with the Brunei national football team.

Angkatan Kampong Setia (AKSE) Bersatu

Brunei Shell Recreation Club (BSRC) FC

Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota (DPMM) FC II

Majlis Sukan Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (MS ABDB)

Majlis Sukan Pasukan Polis Diraja Brunei (MS PPDB)

Persatuan Kampong Saba (Perkasa) FC

High Revolution (HR) FT

Liang Lumut Belait ST

Nelayan Sungai Teraban (NST) FT

Persatuan Pemuda-Pemudi Melayu Lamunin (3PML) FC

Bahtera Kemudi Sekawan (BAKES) FC

Ikatan Kampong Lurong Sekuna-Mulaut Ban 5 (IKLS-MB5) FC

Dato Pemancha Saging (DPS) Ukong

Pakatan Sang Jati Dusun FC

Brunei Food Awards (BFA) FC

Belia Kampong Saba (BESA) FC

Darussalam Soccer Players (DSP) United

Sporting Family Team

Brunei's football stadiums

Football, or soccer, is a popular sport in Brunei, with several stadiums across the country hosting matches and training for various leagues and teams. The national team, nicknamed 'The Wasps', plays its home fixtures at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan. This stadium, opened in 1983, can seat 28,000 people and is also the home ground of the Brunei DPMM FC, who compete in the Singaporean Football League. The stadium was constructed with a mix of public donations and government funds, totalling around $100 million Singaporean dollars.

The Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium is not just a venue but also a symbol of the country's passion for football. It hosted the inaugural fixture between the Brunei National Team and Sheffield United in 1983, with the visitors claiming a narrow 1-0 victory. The stadium has also witnessed some historic moments for Bruneian football, such as their qualification to the 2022 AFF Championship under coach Mario Rivera, their first appearance in 26 years.

While the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium is the primary home ground, other stadiums in the country are used for football matches and training. These include the Track & Field Sports Complex, the Berakas Sports Complex, the Tutong Sports Complex, and the Batu Api Sports Complex. During the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium's renovation from 2021 to 2022, the Track & Field Sports Complex served as an alternative venue for the national team. However, it did not meet the required standards, so the team chose the Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Malaysia as their home ground for the 2022 AFF Championship matches.

The Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) manages football in Brunei and has been instrumental in developing various projects to enhance the sport's infrastructure. The FABD Artificial Field and the Hassanal Bolkiah Mini Stadium are among the association's initiatives to promote football in the country.

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