Courtesy: Vietnam Net


Futsal team in international debut

VietNamNet Bridge – The Indoor Games in Macau this month will be a stem test for Vietnam's novice futsal (indoor football) team, ahead of the 24th Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.

Despite the fact that they have never competed internationally before, they are confident of beating the Philippines and making it through to the semi-finals.

The squad of 22 players have been training intensively for the tournament and most are veteran footballers.

"Our senior [futsal] players will be indispensable because this is the first time we have had a national futsal team," said coach Dao Huy Hung.

"They have the necessary skills and will set the right example for our younger players. But their disadvantage is their lack of physical strength which is the most important element of this sport."

Coach Khumron Sumranphun said he has had to teach his futsal players the rudiments of the game.

He was quoted as saying in a local newspaper that the Vietnamese players were technically very good but still had a long way to go to beat experienced teams such as Thailand and Japan.

Thailand, which has the top team in the region, has a national futsal championship. The national team, currently being trained by a Brazilian coach, also competes internationally.

"We need time to find a 'common voice' so that different generations can communicate effectively," said Hung.

Because of the team's relative inexperience, Hung said the Indoor Games will be more of a training exercise for the SEA Games.

"The result in Macau is not important. The main thing is that it will be good preparation for the future. After the Indoor Games we will work with head coach Sumranphun to select the best players for coming tournaments," said Hung.

The national women's team will be training at HCM City's Thanh Long Sport Centre until October 23 when they leave for Macau.

The more experienced men's team, which finished fourth in the Southeast Asian Championship earlier this year and in 2005, is confident of securing a medal in Thailand.

In Macau, they are grouped with powerhouse Japan, Uzbekistan and Hong Kong.

(Source: Viet Nam News)




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com