His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam expressed his desire to see the players who represented Brunei Darussalam in the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy (HBT) for Asean Youth 2012 to become the foundation for the formation of the National Football Team under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

The monarch delivered a titah during a ceremony to bestow Decoration Orders to the management and players of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy for Asean Youth 2012 at the Istana Nurul Iman yesterday.

In the titah, His Majesty also expressed hopes that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports would devise a plan for relevant motivational scheme and programme in order to prepare the National Football Team to participate in more challenging tournaments.

His Majesty stressed that the success of Brunei Darussalam Under-21 National Team was an excellent achievement and a national pride for the people, especially among the youth in the country.

"The team's success demands very high commitment and discipline at all levels of management and players alike. The success achieved will be a stimulus to inject spirit towards sporting excellence in Brunei Darussalam," said the ruler.

At the ceremony, His Majesty consented to bestow Decoration Orders (PSB) to five individuals from the management and the Meritorious Service Medal (PJK) to 24 people from the management and all the players of the HBT team.

Present at the ceremony were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of Brunei National Olympic Council and Honorary President of the National Football Association Brunei Darussalam (NFABD).

Also present were Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Hazair bin Hj Abdullah, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Paduka Awg Hj Mohd Hamid bin Haji Mohd Jaafar and Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Rahman Hj Mohiddin, President of National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam.

The young wasps became the champion for the first time after beating Indonesia in the final of HBT on March 9, 2012 at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium. - Borneo Bulletin (6 April 2012)