History has been created. The local futsal team, Kampung Buangkok Futsal Team has received the blessing and sanction from the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to participate in the next season of the Brunei Futsal League. The green light was officially given to the 3-year-old futsal team (established in 2020) on 25 August 2023.
This is the first in Singapore history where a futsal team will be competing in an overseas league. Because Singapore is one of the only few nations in Southeast Asia that does not have an active futsal team, Kampung Buangkok’s effort in pushing this project through is a potentially huge step in moulding a futsal culture in Singapore.
“To many others, this (participation) could be just another project, but to us, it’s certainly not. The end game is not just about participation. This is really about raising awareness and bringing futsal in its true form to Singapore. We are not going to be playing week in and out just to win the title. This whole project is also about experiencing the real futsal and bringing the futsal experience back to Singapore,” explained Kenneth Kwang, the Goalkeeper and Spokesperson of Kampung Buangkok.
The conceptualising of seeing Kampung Buangkok participating in the Brunei Futsal League came as early as March 2023. After hosting top Indonesia’s Pendekar United, led by 6-time World Best Futsal Player of the Year winner, Portugal’s Ricardinho, to an exhibition match in Singapore, the management of the visitor came to know about Kampung Bangkok’s passion and ambition. In the subsequent months, plenty of ideas were bounced off each other and the rest is history.
Kampung Buangkok might not be the first overseas team to participate in the Brunei Futsal League, but the Singapore team is certainly throwing in whatever they have to give the rest of the team a run for their money.
The estimated expenses for the team’s flights and accommodation arrangement throughout the 6-months (pending Brunei Futsal League fixture) league involvement will be around S$100,000, which is also an expense self-funded by Kampung Buangkok. Despite the financial challenge, the team spares no effort in recruiting one of the most experienced Malaysian futsal coaches, Thiru Goby, to give the team a lift.
“We are considered new as compared to the rest (of the teams) in Brunei. Hence, we have recruited an experienced coach to help us improve our gameplay, our fitness, and our competitive mentality, and also to adapt to some of the league’s rulings which we might not be familiar with. For example, it’s mandatory to register two U-21 players on game day and minimally one has to play. Basically, we will have to work with our coach to be ready for our first overseas season,” said Kenneth.
“If I may add, this could be a small step for me and my teammates in Kampung Buangkok, but this could be a huge step for Singapore futsal. I really hope so…,” added the futsal advocate.
Kampung Buangkok Futsal Team will embark on a training camp to Brunei from 8 September to 11 September in which they will train and play two friendly matches.
To learn more about Kampung Buangkok Futsal Team, check out their Instagram @KampungBuangkok.FC
Main Photo: Kampung Buangkok FC
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