Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BRUNEI’S chef de mission to the 30th SEA Games Hj Muhd Zamri Dato Paduka Hj Hamdani hopes that it will be smooth sailing after touching down in the Philippines.
The first batch of the Brunei contingent, a total of 52 members which included the football and netball teams, departed the Sultanate earlier today.
“It is very tough, not only preparations for our contingent but also for the other side, the organisers,” said Hj Zamri in an interview with BruSports News before departure at the Brunei International Airport in Berakas.
“Our secretariat team has already been there since Nov 10 but there are still a lot of things yet to be done by the organisers and they have been pressing day by day.
“We are small number contingent and the setting is more for the bigger ones but they are also facing similar problems in terms of accommodation and accreditation,” he added.
“Hopefully the competition venues won’t be changed again in the last minute as during my last meeting last month, there were a lot of changes made by the organisers.
“We also hope that we are going to arrive in Manila in the safe hands of our secretariat without much hassle and trouble,” continued Hj Zamri, who was first involved in the SEA Games management back in 2005, which was also hosted by the Philippines.
Present as the guest of honour to bid farewell to the contingent was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Hj Aminuddin Ihsan Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Hj Abidin.
Brunei are sending a total of 87 athletes competing in 14 sports to the biennial event and the second batch will leave next Thursday.
