WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: VIETNAM LOSE TWO KEY PLAYERS

The two defenders, who have been a regular feature of the Vietnam national team for the last decade, have decided against taking part in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010 for personal reasons.

They were invited to play for Vietnam for the upcoming Asian meet in China but the 30-year-old Nguyen Thi Mai Lan turned it down for health reasons while for the younger Van Thi Thanh, the 26-year-old wants to focus on her studies.

She is a student at the University for Sports and Physical Training.

Mai Lan, who plays for Vietnam Coal, joined the national squad in 1997 while Van Thi Thanh came to Ha Nam club in early 2000.

Since then, the two players have been integral to the team where at the SEA Games in Laos last year, Mai Lan and Van Thanh played very well to win the second gold medal for the women’s team.

With the departure of the two players, Vietnam will only have two other senior players – Dao Thi Mien and Doan Kim Chi – where at the same time, they have also enlisted two new faces in Bui Thi Nhu from Ha Nam club and Bui Thuy An from Hanoi Trang An.

The squad will leave for China on 7 May for some friendlies before the Women’s Asian Cup 2010 from 19-30 May.

Vietnam will face Australia, South Korea and the host team, China.

VIETNAM

GOALKEEPERS: Dang Thi Kieu Trinh, Do Thu Trang, Duong Thi Danh

DEFENDERS: Dao Thi Mien, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, Nguyen Thi Nga, Nhieu Thuy Linh, Nguyen Hai Hoa, Bui Thi Nhu

MIDFIELDERS: Bui Thuy An, Le Thi Thuong, Nguyen Thi Hanh, Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, Nguyen Thi Mai Ngoc, Nguyen Thi Muon, Tu Thi Phu, Nguyen Thi Nguyet, Tran Thi Kim Hong

STRIKERS: Doan Thi Kim Chi, Le Thi Oanh, Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, Nguyen Thi Thanh