VietNamNet Bridge - To ease the pressure on football players, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has changed the goal for the U23 squad at the upcoming Southeast Asia Games: moving to the finals, instead of winning the gold medal.

 

 

Coach Hoang Van Phuc of the men's national football team.

This year, the most important tournament of Vietnam’s football is the 27th SEA Games. This is the playing field that for more than 50 years, Vietnam has not yet to win a gold medal.

Early this year, the VFF and the General Department of Sports and Physical Training agreed on the target for the U23 team at the 27th SEA Games: winning the gold medal. The General Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training – Mr. Vuong Bich Thang - , explained that they set the target to create the motivation for the players. This is also the wish of the majority of fans.

There is a paradox that many sports that do not receive the state’s big investment but they still bravely target gold medals at international competitions while football does not do so. This is the pressure on the General Department of Sports and the VFF, which urged them to set high target for the U23 squad. "Not just football, but other sports set goals to strive for. The General Department of Sports and Physical Training does not force the VFF or U23 team to win the gold medal. But we need to see it as the highest goal to strive for, in order to meet the expectations of the fans," said Thang.

However, as soon as the target to win the gold medal was set, the VFF received mixed opinions. Most said that the goal is too tough because there are many stronger opponents in the region, not to mention the team’s difficulties in preparing for the event, for example lacking an official coach.

Hoang Van Phuc, who is considered to be the chief coach of the Vietnamese national football team and the U23 team, said that going to the semi-finals is the reasonable goal for the U23 squad. Phuc said the target to win the gold medal would put tremendous pressure on the players.

According to some sources from the VFF, after consultation with many experts and considering the actual situation, the VFF has decided to lower the target of the U23 team: entering the finale. Of course, according to a VFF official, the U23 team must always strive to achieve the highest results and the gold medal is still the final destination.

The VFF’s general secretary Ngo Le Bang yesterday said if nothing changes, this week the federation would work with coach Hoang Van Phuc on the terms of a labor contract.

S. Tung