The Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD, Malay: Persatuan Bolasepak Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: ڤرساتوان بولاسيڤق بروني دارالسلام) is the governing body of association foótball in Brunei.
In July 2021, it rebranded into its current name, omitting the word 'National'.[6] The association was also previously known as the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD).[7] The decision was made in order to firmly reflect on the association's objective of producing innovative and substantial advancements to increase the sport's viability. Additionally, it will reflect the association's development and progress since its founding in 2011. There was also a new logo introduced.[8]
On 2 March 2016, the AFC has presented the NFABD with the Grassroots Award for Aspiring Member Association at the first AFC Grassroots Conference this week in Kuala Lumpur.[9] As a substitute for the 2020 Brunei Super League, which was canceled on 19 September 2020 after just two matches owing to COVID-19, the 2020 FA Cup scheduled to begin on 1 November 2020 was canceled.[10] Following the recent lessening of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the association plans to resume football in the nation on 12 June 2020.[11]
The NFABD plans to build a new Technical Centre and a Mini Grandstand inside of their complex with a budget of US$2.1 million.[12] The first Technical Centre with facilities for football practice and games for the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) has started construction on 14 June 2021. The B$3.9 million technical centre, which is entirely sponsored by the FIFA Forward Development Programme, is anticipated to give young people greater possibilities to hone their footballing abilities.[13]
New entity
On July 11, 2021, a decade after it was formed, the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) aligned itself with the country's philosophy as part of its rebranding strategy. In fact, FABD, which was earlier established as the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD), dropped the word National from its name. The association's name wasn't the only change. A new logo was also unveiled, which was a combination of a three-layered crescent representing the lunar stages culminating into a full moon. The three layers of the crescent each represent the colours of the national flag of Brunei. The ‘ripe-lemon’ coloured crescent contains a Jawi inscription of the association's name in Malay while the black crescent has the association's name in English written in Roman letters. The logo also features a green football covered with honeycomb pattern, signifying the association's wish to inject more precise and better growth in the sport. In fact, the honeycomb motif was chosen as it drew inspiration from the national team's nickname ‘The Wasps’.
The decisions were taken to reflect the association's vision of delivering fresh and more robust developments, making the sport more sustainable in the country by 2035. It was also aimed to mirror the FABD's growth and expansion in the last decade. As part of its development initiatives, construction has begun for the country's first technical centre with facilities for football training and matches. The USD 2.9 million project is completely funded by the FIFA Forward Development Programme and is expected to provide more opportunities for the youth to improve their footballing skills. The technical centre will be equipped with a mini gymnasium, medical centre, research room and auditorium. A mini grandstand will complement the FIFA-funded artificial field as a competition venue.
Considering the time needed to adapt to the new standards once the country started to open its activities once more, the FABD opted to stop the 2021 Brunei Super League.[14]
After failing to submit a statutory audit to FIFA in 2023,[15] the FABD announced the suspension of the president as well as the termination of the General Secretary on 16 November.[16] The annual congress to elect a new president was held on 16 December 2023.[17] Former national team player Feisal Eusoff was voted as the new president for the 2024–27 term, amongst other appointments.[18]
Youth development programmes
The FABD focuses on football development and operates national age group programmes with U-23, U-21, U-19 and U-17 teams (known as Tabuan Muda).
Two additional leagues were added; Brunei Under 18 Youth League and Brunei Under 15 Youth League.[19][20]
The NFABD detailed its plans to coordinate grassroots football events throughout 2019, through the Technical Development Department's Grassroots Development Unit.[21] Additionally, the association and the Brunei Shell Recreation Club (BSRC) organised the 'NFABD U6/U8 and U10 Grassroots Football Festival 2019 in celebration of AFC Grassroots Football Day' as part of an ongoing initiative to support the development of the youth's football skills and talents.[22]
There are 20 congress members in FABD, all of them are affiliated with clubs in the Brunei Super League. The Tutong football association, Kuala Belait clubs, Temburong clubs, MS PPDB, MS ABDB, and the referee association cast the 20 ballots.[26]
On 16 June 2012, the proposal of having a Bruneian team play in the Malaysian M-League had been rejected by the NFABD. Prior to now, the NFABD had enquired about participating in the M-League and, ideally, having direct entry to the top division, the Malaysia Super League. But according to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), in 2013 all new recruits must go through the procedure of beginning in the third-tier FAM League.[33]
^"Fifa lifts ban on Brunei". BruneiOlympic.org. Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
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