Kuching: Brunei Darussalam's Rosmin Kamis believes a strong start will mean a distinct advantage in their AFC Solidarity Cup Malaysia 2016 campaign.
Placed in three-team Group A, Brunei will first face Timor-Leste on Wednesday before meeting Nepal to fight for a spot in the semi-finals.
The central defender said: "It is important to have a good start since a win will almost guarantee a position in the semi-finals.
"Everybody is ready despite some of the players still recovering (from injuries)."
Brunei's last encounter with Timor-Leste was in the recent AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Championship 2016 qualifiers in Cambodia, where the sultanate took a commendable 2-1 win but both teams failed to qualify for the tournament proper.
"We will need to improve defensively (from the last tournament) and we have to take every chance we get," Rosmin added.
Despite the recent victory, Rosmin has noted that Timor-Leste is a challenging opponent to face: "They have some players to watch out for. They have got a good midfielder and a striker.
"They can use their physical strength against us but we are prepared for that."
The AFC Solidarity Cup will be Rosmin's last tournament as he looks to retire from international football after 16 years with the national team.
Photo: AFC
Source: the-afc.com