SERIA GARRISON, Saturday, 18 July 2026 – His Royal Highness 920 Lieutenant Colonel (Udara) Prince ‘Abdul Mateen ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the Final of the inaugural His Majesty The Sultan’s Cup Football Tournament, organised by British Forces Brunei (BFB). The tournament was held at the Garrison Sports Complex, BFB in Seria, Belait District.
Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was welcomed by His Excellency Ken O’Flaherty, British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam; Lieutenant Colonel Peter Houlton-Hart MBE RGR, Commander BFB; and Major Dillikumar Rai MVO RGR, Gurkha Major of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
The tournament featured ten teams representing the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), BFB, the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), the Gurkha Security Unit (GSU), and district teams from across Brunei Darussalam. The tournament aimed to foster sportsmanship, strengthen camaraderie, promote teamwork, and enhance mutual understanding, while further strengthening the longstanding friendship between Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom.
Prior to the final match, His Royal Highness interacted with the finalists, match officials, BFB representatives, invited guests, and the local community in attendance.
Following a closely contested final between BFB and the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), His Royal Highness was invited to present the His Majesty The Sultan’s Cup trophy to BFB, who secured victory with a score of 1 – 0, followed by the presentation of a token of appreciation to the runner-up team. Lieutenant Colonel Peter Houlton-Hart MBE RGR, Commander BFB then delivered a speech thereafter His Royal Highness consented to receive a Pesambah.
Before departing, His Royal Highness was invited to join the organisers and players for a group photograph.
The tournament marked another significant milestone in the bilateral defence relationship between Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom. It reflected the shared commitment of both nations to further strengthen cooperation, friendship, and people-to-people ties through sports.
DULI YANG TERAMAT MULIA PADUKA SERI 920 LEFTENAN KOLONEL (UDARA) PENGIRAN MUDA ’ABDUL MATEEN, MENTERI HAL EHWAL LUAR NEGERI BERKENAN BERANGKAT KE PERLAWANAN AKHIR KEJOHANAN BOLA SEPAK HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN’S CUP YANG PERTAMA
SERIA GARISON, Sabtu, 18 Julai 2026 – Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri 920 Leftenan Kolonel (Udara) Pengiran Muda ’Abdul Mateen ibni Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Menteri Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri berkenan berangkat ke Perlawanan Akhir Kejohanan Bola Sepak His Majesty The Sultan’s Cup yang julung kalinya diadakan dan dianjurkan oleh British Forces Brunei (BFB). Kejohanan tersebut berlangsung di Kompleks Sukan Garison, BFB di Pekan Seria, Daerah Belait.
Keberangkatan tiba Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri 920 Leftenan Kolonel (Udara) Pengiran Muda ’Abdul Mateen dijunjung oleh Tuan Yang Terutama Ken O’Flaherty, Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British ke Negara Brunei Darussalam; Yang Mulia Leftenan Kolonel Peter Houlton-Hart MBE RGR, Pemerintah BFB; dan Yang Mulia Mejar Dillikumar Rai MVO RGR, Gurkha Major Batalion Ke-2, The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
Kejohanan bola sepak ini menampilkan sepuluh buah pasukan yang mewakili Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB), BFB, Pasukan Polis Diraja Brunei (PPDB), Pasukan Sekuriti Gurkha (PSG), serta pasukan-pasukan daerah dari seluruh Negara Brunei Darussalam. Kejohanan ini bertujuan untuk memupuk semangat kesukanan, mengeratkan silaturahim, membina semangat kerja berpasukan, dan meningkatkan persafahaman bersama, sekali gus memperkukuh hubungan persahabatan yang telah sekian lama terjalin antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan United Kingdom.
Sebelum perlawanan akhir, Duli Yang Teramat Mulia berkenan meluangkan masa beramah mesra dengan para pemain finalis, para pegawai perlawanan, wakil-wakil BFB, para jemputan khas, dan orang ramai yang turut hadir.
Berikutan perlawanan akhir yang sengit antara BFB dengan Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB), Duli Yang Teramat Mulia dijunjung bagi mengurniakan piala His Majesty The Sultan’s Cup kepada BFB yang memenangi perlawanan dengan keputusan1-0, dan mengurniakan tanda penghargaan kepada pasukan naib juara. Sejurus selepas itu, Yang Mulia Leftenan Kolonel Peter Houlton-Hart MBE RGR, Pemerintah BFB menyembahkan ucapan dan seterusnya Duli Yang Teramat Mulia berkenan menerima Pesambah.
Sebelum keberangkatan balik, Duli Yang Teramat Mulia dijunjung bagi sesi bergambar ramai bersama pihak penganjur dan para pemain.
Kejohanan ini menandakan satu lagi peristiwa penting dalam hubungan pertahanan dua hala antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan United Kingdom. Ia mencerminkan komitmen bersama kedua-dua negara untuk memperkukuhkan lagi kerjasama, persahabatan dan hubungan antara rakyat melalui sukan.