PRE-SEA GAMES LOSES DRAW

The pre-SEA Games was supposed to be part of a run-up to the big event in December where other than allowing hosts Laos to fine-tune their stadium preparation, it was also supposed to allow teams to get a taste of what is to come.

The four-nation tournament was supposed to see the participation of Under-23 teams of hosts Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

But the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said this week, that they will be sending their U19 team instead following a similar announcement by the FA of Thailand (FAT) earlier.

“As visitors to the friendly contest, we cannot tell people what to do,” said Tran Quoc Tuan, the general secretary of the VFF.

“The FAT have decided to send their U19 squad instead of the U23 team to the pre-SEA Games tournament. That is none of our business. The organizers of the event have agreed. That is none of our business, either. However, we need certain changes in our plans.”

Quoc Tuan said that the VFF have received a letter from the pre-SEA Games competition committee confirming that FAT will be sending their U19 team squad to the tournament.

“The U23 players can’t participate in the pre-SEA Games event because the Thai Premier League is still on-going,” added Wisit Korworrakul, the manager of Thailand’s U19 team.