LOCAL FRIENDLIES FOR VIETNAM U23 TEAM

Calisto made this announcement immediately after the team’s return from a training trip to Kunming, China which he felt achieved its intended target.

“Everything was okay. The weather, the training conditions, the attitude of the players. It all took place as I planned. There are no serious problem with the fitness of the players and I’m pleased with them,” said Calisto.

“It is not easy to choose the best from this 32 players. However, I now have a good understanding of the capability of each player. This mean I am now in a position to pick the team – although I will not disclose the names now.”

Calisto said that he has identified key players for the SEA Games squad and where the team will continue their training and preparation at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.

The team is being prepared for the SEA Games which will be held in Laos at the end of the year.

In the meantime, Chonburi FC crashed out of the AFC Cup quarter-finals after losing 2-0 to Binh Duong in the second leg in Vietnam.

Having drawn 2-2 in Bangkok in the home leg two weeks ago, the Sharks went out 4-2 on aggregate.

The Thais were the better side until Binh Duong’s Lancelot Philani broke the deadlock in the 58th minute.

Chonburi did not give up and almost equalised four minutes later when Kone Mohamed’s header was saved by goalkeeper Tran Minh Quang.

The Vietnamese finished off the visitors in the 86th minute when Brazilian Gaston Molino coverted a free kick for a 2-0 win.