VIENTIANE (26 Feb 2011) – Laos are looking at the SEA Games in Jakarta at the end of the year to provide some remedy to put behind their disappointment in the AFC Challenge Cup play-offs.
Laos were denied by Chinese Taipei for a place in the main draw of the AFC Challenge Cup 2012.
Towards ensuring that they will be competitive for the SEA Games in Jakarta at the end of the year, the Laos Football Federation (LFF) will be relying on Laos League One to provide the team with new players.
“We are allowing the national players to return to their clubs in preparation for the new season. We will announce the choice of players to represent Laos at the SEA Games once all League One fixtures have been played,” said Viphet Sihachakr, the LFF president.
The Laos League One clubs have taken scores of young players for the new season which begins this week.
The LFF have also earmarked a large part of this year’s and future budgets for League One with an eye on developing it into a semi-professional league.
They have allocated more than LAK100 million (USD12,500) to League One with each club receiving LAK15 million (USD1,900).
The league champions will get LAK100 million (USDUSD12,500), the runners-up LAK50 million (USD6,250) and the third placed team LAK30 million (USD3,800) kip.
League One matches will be held at Chao Anouvong Stadium in the city-centre on Wednesdays and on weekends. League Two will begin next month.
