REPRIEVE FOR VAN QUYEN AS CALISTO NAMES SQUAD

HANOI (2 Sept 2010) – Suspended striker Pham Van Quyen has returned to the Vietnam national team following the official squad list announced by chief coach Henrique Calisto ahead of the Thang Long Football Cup later this month.

Van Quyen was given a four-year suspension by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) following the match-fixing scandal of the Vietnam national Under-23 team at the 25th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines in 2005.

After serving the four-year term, Van Quyen joined Song Lam Nghe An club for the V-League 2009 and while he did not fare very well, still Calisto feels that he has shown enough since his comeback to warrant a place in the national squad.

“I thought that I would not have the chance to return to the national squad after the scandal in 2005. Being trusted by coach Calisto is the chance of my lifetime. I will try to play well to repay the trust of coach Calisto and the fans,” said a jubilant Van Quyen.

Other than Van Quyen, fullback Van Truong of Hoang Anh Gia Lai, who was also involved in the scandal in 2005, was also called up to the national squad.

In the meantime star striker Le Cong Vinh, who has just returned from Portugal after a ligament operation, will not attend the Thang Long Football Cup.

The Vietnam national squad will report for camp on 6 September in Hanoi to prepare for the Thang Long Football Cup, slated for 20-24 September where they will be up against the North Korean national squad, U23 Kuwait and U23 Australia.

ASEAN champions Vietnam are using the meet towards preparing for their title defence in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 in December.

VIETNAM TRAINING SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Duong Hong Son (Hanoi T&T), Nguyen Manh Dung (Thanh Hoa)

DEFENDERS: Nguyen Minh Chau (Hai Phong), Tran Duy Quang (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Nguyen Vu Phong (Binh Duong), Nguyen Trong Hoang (Song Lam Nghe An), Tran Duc Duong (Hai Phong), Le Tan Tai (Khanh Hoa), Nguyen Minh Phuong (Dong Tam Long An), Cao Sy Cuong (Hanoi T&T), Luong Van Duoc Em (Dong Thap), Pham Thanh Luong, Nguyen Xuan Thanh (Hanoi ACB).

MIDFIELDERS: Huynh Quang Thanh (Binh Duong), Dao Van Phong (Khanh Hoa), Vu Nhu Thanh (Ninh Binh), Nguyen Huy Hoang (Song Lam Nghe An), Truong Dinh Luat (Navibank Saigon), Tran Chi Cong (Binh Duong), Doan Viet Cuong, Le Van Truong (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Le Phuoc Tu (Thanh Hoa).

STRIKERS: Nguyen Quang Hai (Khanh Hoa), Le Sy Manh (Quang Nam), Pham Van Quyen (Song Lam Nghe An), Nguyen Viet Thang (Ninh Binh).