LAOS AIM TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE

Laos, who maintained their reputation to qualify for Asean biggest football tournament for the second time from the qualifiers since its inception in 2006, have been hard at work with the Hong Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) Football Club in Vietnam.

They had only a week’s rest after the qualifying tournament in Cambodia before they head straight to HAGL.

“We do not have a lot of time for sure and it is crucial that we tweak the defence a little bit and of course sharpen the finishing,” said Veleriy Dvovin, the head coach of the Laos national team.

“The boys have been hard at work so it is imperative that we look at how much of a progress we have made when we head to Bangkok some ten days before the tournament proper.

“We will have some test matches and it will be good for the players.”

Two years ago, Laos completed the round of matches at the bottom of the group after conceding a 3-1 loss to Indonesia in their first match before losing 11-0 to eventual champions Singapore and then a 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Vietnam.

For this year’s meet, Laos have been placed in Group A alongside hosts Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Group B are hosts Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar and the second team from the qualifiers Cambodia.

“We are a very young team but we need to have more shape and obviously we must minimise mistakes as at the higher level, we can be punished for that,” added Vdovin.