USA Malaysia Cup refereeing Re. The 'Team Brunei' Yearbook is a personal and subjective review of the highs and lows of the Brunei National Team's amazing 1999 season. This is clearly stated in the book's forward, which I suspect the Malaysian coaches quoted by Malaysia's The Sun have not read. The views expressed in 'Team Brunei' are independent and without editorial interference, surely a positive approach for which BAFA should be congratulated. In recent years Brunei's football's own administration has taken criticism square on the chin.
Malaysian football needs to take a long look in the mirror.
The odds were stacked against Brunei last year for a variety of reasons, not just questionable refereeing. The focus of the book is the sporting heroism of the Brunei National Team which broke the shackles of the 'whipping boys' insult gleefully applied by those paragons of sporting fair-play, the Malaysian press. Guest in a foreign league doesn't mean that the Brunei NT has to meekly lie down and take whatever is dished out and Darby and Co. shouldn't moan if an invited guest helps himself to the caviar at the banquet tablesour grapes for dessert, naturally. Malaysian coaches should read the book to learn how to become a winner against the odds. Malaysian football could actually learn a thing or two from Brunei's road to success.