VIETNAM WOMEN AIM FOR FOURTH SEA GAMES GOLD

The Vietnamese girls had made it a hat-trick of titles with wins in 2001 (Malaysia), 2003 (Vietnam) and 2005 (Philippines) but was denied two years ago in Thailand after losing narrowly to the host.

“The squad which consists of 23 members will include those who played in the Asian Football Championship qualifiers,” said head coach Chen Yun Fat.

“We will also allow some young players from the recent Under-19 National Women’ Football Championship the chance to be part of the squad as well.”

The team will begin their SEA Games preparation with an intensive training course in the northern province of Vinh Phuc before moving to Ha Nam until mid-October.

They will then leave for Quang Ninh Province to compete in the International Coal Women’s Football Open from 16-23 October 2009 which will see the partcicpation of the host Mineral Coal, the Vietnam national team and two visiting sides.

After that, the team will return to Hanoi before a training stint in Japan on 1-8 November 2009.