SINGAPORE (14 June 2015) – Myanmar head coach Kyi Lwin aims to rewrite history when they take on Thailand in the final of the men’s football at the SEA Games tomorrow night at the National Stadium.
After having sprung a surprise on favourites Vietnam in the semi-final yesterday, Kyi Lwin still have another ace up his sleeves as he look to finally win the gold medal at the SEA Games – something that he was not able to do as a player.
In 1993, Kyi Lwin was a defender when Myanmar fell to a 4-3 loss to Thailand. Will the script still be the same against a marauding Thai side who had outclassed Indonesia 5-0 in the semi-finals?
Or will Myanmar finally get the chance to bite into the gold medal they last won as Burma back in 1973? Which was incidentally also in Singapore?
“Twenty-two years is a long time in anything but I hope that we have made enough of a progress to show that we are a different team from 1973 or 1993 or even more recently in 2007.
“The boys showed that they really wanted to win against Vietnam. I hope that they can repeat the same kind of performance in the final.
“I hope that this time round, things will be different and that for once, Myanmar can win the gold medal after not being able to do so for so many years. It is definitely the right gift for the people of Myanmar.”
Myanmar beat Vietnam in the semi-finals
Myanmar captain Aung Si Thu
Goalkeeper Phyo Kyaw Zin
Myanmar have won the SEA Games gold medal for a total of five times since the SEA Games was incepted back in 1959.
They won all five gold medals back when the SEA Games was not known as the SEAP (South East Asian Peninsular) Games.
Their first ever gold medal came in 1965 when they had to share it with Thailand.
They then went on to pick up four more crowns from 1967, 1969, 1971 and also 1973.
But come tomorrow night, Myanmar will be full tested against a Thai side eager to pick up their second crown in two editions.
“We are more than eleven players on the field. In the final, we need to be patient. That will be key,” added Kyi Lwin.
FIXTURES – 15 June 2015
Third & Fourth Placing
1400 – Vietnam vs Indonesia
Final
2030 – Myanmar vs Thailand
