Coach Park Hang-seo (right). (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Headcoach Park Hang-seo is hoping to lead Vietnam to the top of their group at theupcoming ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship, the AFF Suzuki Cup,which will be held in a new format early next month.
At a press briefing on in Hanoi,the Korean coach said his team must finish top of group A.
"I have selected the 30 bestplayers for this tournament. For some reasons, some of them could not jointheir teammates in time. As result, I don’t have much time (about one month) toprepare well for the cup. However, we still aim at the top spot," saidPark through an interpreter.
In the coming tournament, Parkwill not have one of his best players as defender Vu Van Thanh has beensidelined due to injury.
Thanh played outstandingly in thisyear’s Asian U23 championship and the Asian Games as Vietnam unexpectedlyfinished second and fourth, respectively.
"I regret that he could notmake this competition. He is an important player and I have not found anysubstitute who could fill his place," he said, adding that he trusted hisplayers who have experience in international tournament and the domesticleague.
Another difficulty he noted wasthe lack of information about his opponents.
Vietnam is in the same group asLaos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Malaysia. With the new format, teams will play eachteam home and away. The two best teams of each group will advance to thesemi-finals. Vietnam’s first match is against Laos on November 8 in Vientiane.
"I have almost no idea aboutthem. I just flew to Malaysia to see each of their local league and knew thatthey have naturalised players in their national team. My assistant will watchand take note more of their friendly against Kyrgyzstan on October 16. Onthe other teams, the VFF gave me clips of their previous matches," hesaid.
Park and his players on October16 departed for the Republic of Korea for a short training camp where they willhave three friendly matches with local clubs.
The first match is against KLeague side Incheon United on October 22. The second match three days laterthey will be versus Seoul FC, also a team in the top league of the K League 2team Seoul E Land FC will host them on October 29.
Park said the camp in theRepublic of Korea was necessary for his team and he hoped to perfect their techniqueand tactics and find a player to replace Thanh.
"We have not at our best atpresent but I believe that in South Korea, things will be solved especially theorganisation and unity of the team. And Vietnam will be 100 percent ready forthe first match against Laos," he said.
"We will then work on eachmatch and look towards victories. Through the U23 championship and Asian Games,we received great expectation from our fans and we have a responsibility tomeet their demands," he said.
Speaking at the briefing,captain Nguyen Van Quyet expressed confidence for the tournament.
"It will be my fourth AFFCup. I feel pressure in all tournaments including this one. But we hope to playwell as remarkable results at recent events are a strong drive. We hope to continuethat success," said Quyet, the most experienced player on the team.
Vietnam has won the tournamentonce, defeating Thailand in 2008.-VNS/VNA
At a press briefing on in Hanoi,the Korean coach said his team must finish top of group A.
"I have selected the 30 bestplayers for this tournament. For some reasons, some of them could not jointheir teammates in time. As result, I don’t have much time (about one month) toprepare well for the cup. However, we still aim at the top spot," saidPark through an interpreter.
In the coming tournament, Parkwill not have one of his best players as defender Vu Van Thanh has beensidelined due to injury.
Thanh played outstandingly in thisyear’s Asian U23 championship and the Asian Games as Vietnam unexpectedlyfinished second and fourth, respectively.
"I regret that he could notmake this competition. He is an important player and I have not found anysubstitute who could fill his place," he said, adding that he trusted hisplayers who have experience in international tournament and the domesticleague.
Another difficulty he noted wasthe lack of information about his opponents.
Vietnam is in the same group asLaos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Malaysia. With the new format, teams will play eachteam home and away. The two best teams of each group will advance to thesemi-finals. Vietnam’s first match is against Laos on November 8 in Vientiane.
"I have almost no idea aboutthem. I just flew to Malaysia to see each of their local league and knew thatthey have naturalised players in their national team. My assistant will watchand take note more of their friendly against Kyrgyzstan on October 16. Onthe other teams, the VFF gave me clips of their previous matches," hesaid.
Park and his players on October16 departed for the Republic of Korea for a short training camp where they willhave three friendly matches with local clubs.
The first match is against KLeague side Incheon United on October 22. The second match three days laterthey will be versus Seoul FC, also a team in the top league of the K League 2team Seoul E Land FC will host them on October 29.
Park said the camp in theRepublic of Korea was necessary for his team and he hoped to perfect their techniqueand tactics and find a player to replace Thanh.
"We have not at our best atpresent but I believe that in South Korea, things will be solved especially theorganisation and unity of the team. And Vietnam will be 100 percent ready forthe first match against Laos," he said.
"We will then work on eachmatch and look towards victories. Through the U23 championship and Asian Games,we received great expectation from our fans and we have a responsibility tomeet their demands," he said.
Speaking at the briefing,captain Nguyen Van Quyet expressed confidence for the tournament.
"It will be my fourth AFFCup. I feel pressure in all tournaments including this one. But we hope to playwell as remarkable results at recent events are a strong drive. We hope to continuethat success," said Quyet, the most experienced player on the team.
Vietnam has won the tournamentonce, defeating Thailand in 2008.-VNS/VNA
VNA
