Kg Buangkok makes history as the first Singaporean team in the foreign futsal competition

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s futsal team Kampung Buangkok is all set to make history by becoming the first team to participate in an overseas futsal competition.

The team will participate in this year’s Brunei Futsal League, which is expected to start in August 2024 and run until February next year.

Kampung Buangkok made their debut in the Brunei Futsal League and have set a bold target to finish in the top three in their first season. However, the team also believes that bringing the coveted trophy back to Singapore is within reach.

“Our journey from a small, local team to competing on an international stage is a testament to our passion and commitment to the sport.

We are excited and honored to be the first Singaporean team to compete in both the Brunei Futsal League and an overseas competition,” said Kenneth Kwang Wai Kit, goalkeeper and spokesperson for Kampung Buangkok.

The team’s participation in the Brunei Futsal League will be entirely self-funded, with an estimated cost of approximately S$90,000 for the entire season.

Kwang reportedly generously offered to pay a significant portion of the team’s costs.

Because the team is self-funded, the coaches and players will also contribute to travel arrangements. As such, the team has prepared a cost-effective itinerary for their upcoming participation in the Brunei Futsal League.

The players will fly direct from Singapore while the coaches, mainly from Johor, will travel from Senai Airport, with both sides regrouping in Brunei.

The team will be led by Malaysian Futsal Association head coach Ahmad Hanif bin Sarmin, better known as Jojo. Head coach Hanif is assisted by his coaching staff from Johor Bahru.

Previously, head coach Hanif and his coaching staff had coached Malaysian futsal team Kuantan Rangers, now Pahang Rangers, who became the first foreign futsal team to win the Brunei Futsal League during their debut season in 2017.

Jojo started his futsal career in Malaysia with the Academy Old Boys in 2003 before transferring to Johor where he won the National Futsal League title in 2006 and 2007.

Jojo also played for Figos RSA FC before ending his career with PKNS FC.

Kampung Buangkok also competed and won the Singapore Democratic Party’s first Manimaran Cup earlier this year (pictured above).

It was an all-Buangkok final as teams from Kampung Buangkok A and Kampung Buangkok B defeated their opponents in the semi-finals.

But there only needed to be one winner in the final, and Kampung Buangkok B lifted the trophy as they became 2024 Manimaran Cup champions.

As they embark on this historic journey, the team strives not only to be successful on the international stage, but also to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the sport while raising the profile of futsal in Singapore.

“Playing in the Brunei Futsal League is not just about the competition for us. It’s about showcasing the potential of futsal in Singapore and inspiring others to take up the sport.

We hope our journey will motivate many to discover and participate in indoor football,” Kwang added.

The team hopes that their performance and participation in the Brunei Futsal League will attract attention within their local community, leading to more interested parties taking up futsal in the long term.

Officials from the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) explained the format and structure of the 2024-2025 Brunei Futsal League to club representatives during a briefing session in May to participating clubs.

There will be two groups of ten clubs each. In group one, the top ten clubs from the 2023 Brunei Futsal League will compete in 18 matches in a two-round competition.

Group Two will include new indoor football teams, which will play in a normal competition structure. According to FABD, the winner of Group Two will have the opportunity to play in Group One next season.