VietNamNet Bridge - In a press conference on the afternoon of January 14, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) vice chairman Nguyen Lan Trung confirmed that coach Hoang Van Phuc the interim coach of the national football squad.

VFF Vice Chair Nguyen Lan Trung (middle) at the press conference yesterday.

Despite the agreement among the three parties: the VFF, the Hanoi Youth Club where Phuc is the coach and Phuc himself, Phuc was not officially introduced as the interim caretaker of the national team at the press conference as schedule because he had to wait for the decision of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training.

Trung said: "In the process, we still have to wait for the decision of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training. But I believe that the General Department would support Phuc as the interim coach. Tomorrow (15/1), VFF will submit proposals to the General Department to complete the procedure.”

Trung explained why many coaches did not want to lead the national team: "Through meetings with the coaches, we found that they were all honored to be on the job."

"However, due to the objective and subjective conditions that some coaches were not able to hold this position. For example the case of coach Le Huynh Duc: his club’s schedule does not allow him to guide the national teams in the two matches of the Asian Cup qualifier," Trung said.

"About the case of Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Tuan told me that if his club was a normal one, he would have joined the national team. But Tuan has led a club that was just merged between Hai Phong and Khanh Hoa so he is busy."

Talking about the decision to choose coach Hoang Van Phuc, Trung said: "After a period of discussion, coach Hoang Van Phuc has agreed to lead the national squad in the two games of the Asian Cup qualifiers and some other friendly matches of the team."

The VFF confirmed to give Phuc the entire right to choose players and members of the coaching board. On January 13, Phuc submitted to VFF the list of member of the coaching board.

Coach Hoang Van Phuc.

Accordingly, assistant coaches are Le Tuan Long and Phung Thanh Phuong and goalkeeper assistant is coach Quach Ngoc Minh. But the list must be approved by the General Department of Sports and Physical Training.

The VFF’s Secretary-General Ngo Le Bang said the new regulations of the Asia Football Confederation (AFC) has eased the registration of players. Currently, the preliminary list of the VFF includes 78 players, including many young players.

This list shall be finalized by coach Hoang Van Phuc and the coaching staff again. In addition to the two Asian Cup qualifier games, Phuc will instruct the team in several friendly games.

Compiled by Nam Nguyen