The head coach of the Vietnamese men’s football team is in Paju City, South Korea, with the 30 players he shortlisted for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship next month. Park Hang-seo said the national football team’s goal right now is to be the top team in its group to secure a spot in the semifinal. This way, Vietnam will avoid an early confrontation with Thailand, winners of the championship in 2014 and 2016. This year, Vietnam is in Group A with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar. Thailand is in Group B with Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Timor-Leste. “I will try to help Vietnam win the championship after 10 years of waiting. I understand that Vietnam has high hopes for the AFF Cup,” he said. He told Korean media that the Vietnamese media have rated Thailand as the best candidate for the championship. To avoid an early confrontation, he said, Vietnam would need be the top team in their group and secure a semifinal spot. In an … [Read more...] about Vietnamese coach sets sights high in regional football contests
Football
National football team ready for friendly matches in RoK
A practice session of Vietnam’s national men’s football team in Paju of the RoK (Photo: VNA) Seoul (VNA) – Vietnam’s national men’s football team on October 19 joined a practice session in Paju, in the northern region of the Republic of Korea (RoK), as part of its training course to prepare for the upcoming ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018. According to coaches, all players are in good physical condition and ready for the upcoming matches. The weather in Paju is also favourable for sports training, they noted. The squad will have friendly matches against three RoK clubs, including Incheon United on October 22, Seoul FC on October 25, and Seoul E Land on October 29. They will then return home the following day for the final list of players to the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. As many as 22 players will be selected to participate in the tournament. The football tournament will take place from November 8 to December 15 with 26 matches among … [Read more...] about National football team ready for friendly matches in RoK
Vietnam football squad start training in RoK
After the long journey to the RoK, head coach Park Hang-seo offered light exercises for his team at training yesterday, mainly focusing on helping the players relax and restore their form. The weather in Paju is colder than in Hanoi, especially in the evening, where the temperature can plunge to 9-10 C. However, during the day, the average temperature is roughly 15 C, which is convenient for training as well as helping to accelerate the recovery of the players. The recovery process is also important work that Park will give priority to in the first phase of the training. "Most of our players are tired because the Vietnamese pro football league recently finished”, Park told local Yonhap News Agency. "Training is important, but it's also important for our players to recover their form and strengthen our teamwork." Coach Park and his team still receive a lot of attention from the local media on this return to the RoK, however, back in his home town 59-year-old Park said he was … [Read more...] about Vietnam football squad start training in RoK
Sprint king Bolt rejects Malta football offer
Since retiring from athletics last year, Usain Bolt has been pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer. — AFP PhotoViet Nam News SYDNEY — Sprint superstar Usain Bolt has turned down a contract from Maltese champions Valletta and will remain in Australia to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer, his agent said on Thursday. The eight-time Olympic champion has been on trial with A-League club the Central Coast Mariners since arriving Down Under in August. He scored two goals in a pre-season friendly last Friday but is yet to be offered a deal, with cashed-up Valletta dangling a two-year trial-free contract to entice him away earlier this week. But Bolt’s agent Ricky Simms said he had opted against a move to the Maltese Premier League team, which is backed by a group of investors from the Sanban Group in the United Arab Emirates. "There is a lot of interest in Usain playing football," he said. "We regularly receive similar … [Read more...] about Sprint king Bolt rejects Malta football offer
Usain’s football success is no bolt from the blue
Too cool: Usain Bolt gets to meet reporter Paul Kennedy. Photo: SelfieViet Nam News By Paul Kennedy Jamaicans really are too cool for school. I honestly believe those who come from this West Indian island are probably the coolest people on earth. So laid back they are lying down, super friendly and just, well, really cool. A Jamaican friend of mine, Nikki, gave me a scarf in the yellow, green and black colours of her home country and it’s hanging proudly on my wall at home here in Việt Nam. You can tell which apartment is mine when you get out the elevator as chances are you’ll hear Bob Marley wailing from behind my front door. They even had a bobsleigh team for Pete’s sake in a country where it has never snowed and as the title of the movie made about them says, it was a cool team. The coolest person I’ve ever met in my life is Jamaican. You may have heard of him, he’s called Usain Bolt. I was lucky enough to interview Mr Bolt in a … [Read more...] about Usain’s football success is no bolt from the blue