AFF WOMEN’S: Yun Fa Worries Over Missing Spirit

HO CHI MINH CITY (17 Sept 2012) – Vietnam chief coach Chen Yun Fa is a worried man. It was not so much the 4-2 result the team scored in their last game against the Philippines which is of concern but rather the manner with which they played the game which has Yun Fa raising his eyebrows.

Vietnam have won their last two matches – a 10-0 thrashing over Singapore in their first game and then the 4-2 win over the Philippines two days ago.

“There is definitely something missing in our game and that is the spirit of the team,” said Yun Fa. “Philippines were not good in terms of tactical or the physical but they made it up with good spirit and that matters.

“They managed to score two goals with good attitude from the players. If we continue to play like we have played in the last two matches, it will be a difficult game against Myanmar (later today). We lost to them last year where they showed that even though they were lacking in certain things, they played as a unit with good spirit.”

In the meantime Yoshinori Kumada, the chief coach of Myanmar, feels that his team will be the underdogs when the two sides face in the decisive match in Group A.

Both teams would want to finish at the top of the group to make sure that they will have a better chance of progressing past the semi-finals.

“Sure we beat Vietnam last year but Vietnam were never easy,” said Kumada after watching his side beat the Philippines 3-0 and then thumping Singapore 11-0 in their second group tie.

“Vietnam have good individual players and they pass the ball around well. We have to be at our best and make sure that we make full use of the opportunity that comes our way.”

AFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2012

(All matches at Thong Nhat Stadium)

GROUP A: Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines

GROUP B: Thailand, Laos, Malaysia