Ha Noi shooter to train Japanese

Eagle-eye: Shooter Dang Hong Ha will leave to coach Japanese marksmen in standard and mixed air mobile target rifle over a two-week course. — VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI — National key shooter Dang Hong Ha, 30, is to coach four Japanese shooters in a two-week course following an invitation from the Japanese Shooting Federation.

Ha, who has been in the sport for a decade in the women's air mobile target rifle, with a 60-medal collection, is the first Vietnamese shooter to professionally coach a foreign team.

Ha will coach Japanese shooters in standard and mixed air mobile target rifle. She will leave for Tokyo tomorrow.

"I was contacted last year by Yuzuru Nagayama, an official of the Japanese shooting federation," Ha said yesterday.

"I'm so happy. It's a challenge and honour for me and Viet Nam Shooting. I'll try to do my best with my experience and skills that I've gained from Vietnamese coaches in the national and Ha Noi team."

The Hanoian shooter broke her personal best record at the National Sports Games in Da Nang last December with 382 points after 40 shots, surpassing her old record of 378 points at the National Shooting Championship that has remained unbroken since 2004.

She also won a silver medal in the team event at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, last November.

Her personal best is 389 points from 40 shots during training in Ha Noi.

At the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Munich, Germany last July, Ha scored 361 points to rank 13th. — VNS

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Hanoian shooter to coach in Japan

HA NOI – National key shooter Dang Hong Ha, 30, is to coach four Japanese shooters in a two-week course following an invitation from the Japanese Shooting Federation.

Ha, who has been in the sport for a decade in the women's air rifle mobile target, with a 60-medal collection, is the first Vietnamese shooter to professionally coach a foreign team.

Ha will coach Japanese shooters in standard and mixed air rifle mobile target. She will leave for Tokyo on Thursday.

"I was contacted last year by Yuzuru Nagayama, an official of the Japanese shooting federation," Ha said yesterday.

"I'm so happy. It's a challenge and honour for me and Viet Nam Shooting. I'll try to do my best with my experience and skills that I've gained from Vietnamese coaches in the national and Ha Noi team."

The Hanoian shooter broke her personal best record at the National Sports Games in Da Nang last December with 382 points after 40 shots, surpassing her old record of 378 points at the National Shooting Championship that has remained unbroken since 2004.

She also won a silver medal in the team event at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, last November.

Her personal best is 389 points from 40 shots during training in Ha Noi.

At the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Munich, Germany last July, Ha scored 361 points to rank 13th. – VNS

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Thanh Hoa coach receives V-League touchline ban

Coach Le Thuy Hai of Thanh Hoa will be banned for two matches after his reaction to a referee decision.

Hai exchanged angry words with referee Ngo Quoc Hung during a match between his team and Hoa Phat Ha Noi three weeks ago. As a result of the altercation, Hai will be banned from the touchline when his team host Navibank Sai Gon at Thong Nhat Stadium tomorrow and for the following fixture against Ha Noi T&T in the capital city next Friday.

Referee Hung suspended the match for five minutes and gave Hai a red card that sent the coach to the stands.

Hai will also have to pay a VND5 million (US$230) fine to the Viet Nam Football Federation's Disciplinary Department.

Vietnamese hotshots to play in world pool tournament

Viet Nam will send two representatives to the World 8-ball Pool Championship in Dubai, UAE, on February 19-26.

Nguyen Phuc Long and Do Hoang Quan have received an invitation from the organisers as they are among Asian leading players.

The 112 cueists will be divided into 14 groups playing in a round robin format which will start on Sunday to next Thursday.

Two top players in each group will advance to the knock-out round. The winner will be awarded US$40,000. — VNS

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Most Outstanding Athletes 2010 selected

Japan's Momoko Takahashi (R), Vietnam's Vu Thi Huong (C) and Uzbekistan's Guzel Khubbieva run their women's 100m final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, Guangdong province last month - Photo: Reuters

HCMC - Track-and-field athlete Vu Thi Huong, the “Queen of Speed” in Southeast Asia, has been selected the Best Athlete of 2010 followed by her teammate Truong Thanh Hang and Asian Games gold medalist Le Bich Phuong.

Vietnamese track-and-field athletes showed some excellent performances at the 16th Asian Games (ASIAD) in Guangzhou, China last month, taking home three silvers and two bronzes. Huong, along with fellow runners Truong Thanh Hang and Vu Van Huyen, were all nominated for Vietnam’s top 10 outstanding athletes.

Vu Thi Huong from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, who won Best Athlete of 2009, secured the second consecutive title by making history for Vietnam athletics at ASIAD by winning Vietnam’s first ever medal at the games - a bronze medal in the women’s 100m event. She also won a silver in the 200m race.

Huong beat Hang to the title as she picked up 1,213 points, while Hang, who grasped two silver medals in the ASIAD in the women’s 800m and 1500m events, came second with 1,208 points.

Though athlete Le Bich Phuong won the only gold medal for Vietnam at ASIAD in the women’s karate 55kg category, she came third with 1,047 points.

The other winners in the top 10 were the world’s number seven badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh (631 points), track and field athlete Vu Van Huyen (582 points), chess player Le Quang Liem (558 points), weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan (331 points), shooter Ha Minh Thanh (274 points), wrestler Le Thi Lua (257 points), and swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc (218).

For contributing to the track and field team’s great victory last year, coach Ho Thi Tu Tam from Danang Sports Training Center was voted Coach of the Year 2010 with 463 points, beating Karate head coach Le Cong from the Army team and track and field coach Nguyen Dinh Minh from HCMC, who won second and third places with 395 and 376 points respectively

Meanwhile, shooting coach Nguyen Thi Nhung from the General Department of Sports and Physical Training earned fourth position with 167 points, followed by chess coach Lam Minh Chau from HCMC with 138 points.

Swimmer Vo Thanh Tung from HCMC, who won a gold and a silver at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China, won the best para-athlete award with 550 points, while badminton coach Le Thuy Ha received the nomination for most outstanding coach for disabled athletes in the vote by journalists and sports experts with 332 points. 

Hundreds of sports experts and journalists from Hanoi, HCMC and Danang voted over the weekend for the top 10 athletes, top five coaches, top five para-athletes and top three para-athletes’ coaches.

The annual vote was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Fund for Supporting Young Talent and The Thao Viet Nam (Vietnam Sports) newspaper.

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Thanh Hoa coach ready for fresh new challenges

Glory days: Le Thuy Hai lifts the V-League coach of the year 2008 trophy after helping Binh Duong win consecutive titles. He now coaches Thanh Hoa. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Khanh

HA NOI — When he signed up as coach of Lam Son Thanh Hoa, Le Thuy Hai knew he would have difficulties.

However, after two months, he has come across more problems than he expected, but he is not complaining.

Several senior players have resigned to join other teams and many of the younger players need much improvement.

"Everyone can see our problem. Many senior players have gone, I have to work with juniors who are competing in their place – and continue to train more," Hai said.

"I realised their were difficulties when I signed the contract, but as a coach I accepted the challenge to make things perfect."

After the 2010 season ended, several of Thanh Hoa's qualified players, including national team member Le Phuoc Tu and midfielders Tran Anh Tuan and Khanh Lam, left to other clubs.

Meanwhile naturalised Vietnamese player Le Tostao and three other foreigners also said goodbye.

Their departure pushed Thanh Hoa to the brink. The problem could have become worse as some others also expressed a desire to quit. However, when Hai became coach, he persuaded them to stay.

He is known for his strong personality and is respected by players.

Under his management, Thanh Hoa have lured talented midfielder Trinh Phong Thu from Ha Noi ACB and Anh Tuan from Hai Phong.

Halfback Trong Hai has also returned home after two years playing for Ha Noi T&T.

"We still lack players, but I have just signed contracts with two foreign players – a striker and a midfielder. We are testing some newcomers and need one more forward and one defender," Hai said.

The 64-year-old who has won several titles with other clubs, now wants to succeed with a low-ranked team. This was major reason for him signing Thanh Hoa despite receiving many other offers.

"A coach is not so necessary with a highly qualified team. Earning success with these teams does not surprise anyone," said Hai.

"I like to conquer challenges, that is why I am here. Once I made my choice, I did not complain, because it would not solve the problems.

"People can evaluate me through my activities and the results," Hai added. — VNS

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Thanh Hoa coach likes a challenge

HA NOI – When he signed up as coach of Lam Son Thanh Hoa, Le Thuy Hai knew he would have difficulties.

However, after two months, he has come across more problems than he expected, but he is not complaining.

Several senior players have resigned to join other teams and many of the younger players need much improvement.

"Everyone can see our problem. Many senior players have gone, I have to work with juniors who are competing in their place – and continue to train more," Hai said.

"I realised their were difficulties when I signed the contract, but as a coach I accepted the challenge to make things perfect."

After the 2010 season ended, several of Thanh Hoa's qualified players, including national team member Phuoc Tu and midfielders Anh Tuan and Khanh Lam, left to other clubs.

Meanwhile naturalised Vietnamese player Le Tostao and three other foreigners also said goodbye.

Their departure pushed Thanh Hoa to the brink. The problem could have become worse as some others also expressed a desire to quit. However, when Hai became coach, he persuaded them to stay.

He is known for his strong personality and is respected by players.

Under his management, Thanh Hoa has lured talented midfielder Phong Thu from Ha Noi ACB and Anh Tuan from Hai Phong.

Halfback Trong Hai has also returned home after two years playing for Ha Noi T&T.

"We still lack players, but I have just signed contracts with two foreign players – a striker and a midfielder. We are testing some newcomers and need one more forward and one defender," Hai said.

Hai who has won several titles with other clubs, now wants to succeed with a low-ranked team. This was major reason for him signing Thanh Hoa despite receiving many other offers.

"A coach is not so necessary with a highly qualified team. Earning success with these teams does not surprise anyone," said Hai.

"I like to conquer challenges, that is why I am here. Once I made my choice, I did not complain, because it would not solve the problems.

"People can evaluate me through my activities and the results," Hai added. – VNS

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Suspension, injuries worry Viet Nam coach

HA NOI – Suspension and an injury pose difficulties for coach Henrique Calito as Viet Nam prepare to play Malaysia in the first-leg of the semi-finals of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

His favourite player Nguyen Trong Hoang is out after he was "red carded" in the crucial match against Singapore last Wednesday.

Halfback Huynh Thanh Quang suffered an ankle injury during the match and physicians say will not be fit to play in the semi-finals although he is in Kuala Lumpur.

The coach wants the injured player to encourage his teammates during the games.

He has also said that he will ask his players to use tactics to cover the player's absence.

Viet Cuong, whom the Portuguese coach praised after he played with an injury against Singapore, has still not fully recovered and it's not yet known if he will take his place tomorrow.

His teammate Phan Van Tai Em is suffering a knee injury and was unable to train on Sunday.

Thanh Hung and Minh Chau were substituted for both.

"The match is very difficult for Viet Nam because we are a target that all teams want to defeat," said coach Calisto.

"But I know Malaysia is in the same situation; they are under heavy pressure to win on home turf while some of their players are injured." - VNS

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Zaccheroni becomes new Japan coach

Coach Alberto Zaccheroni

Photo: Reuters

Former AC Milan and Juventus manager Alberto Zaccheroni has been named as the new coach of Japan, the country's governing body announced on Monday.

The Japan Football Association (JFA) said the 57-year-old had reached an agreement to take charge of the Blue Samurai and would hold a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, bringing an end to a two-month search for a new national coach.

The identity of Japan's next coach had taken an intriguing twist earlier in the day when local media offered contrasting opinions on who was poised to take over.

According to Nikkan Sports, former Argentina manager Jose Pekerman was going to be named as coach later in the day.

However, the Daily Yomiuri, and Italy's La Repubblica, correctly reported that Zaccheroni had agreed to a two-year deal to succeed Takeshi Okada.

Dutchmen Marco van Basten and Ronald Koeman had also been linked with the Japan job while the delay in naming a coach had triggered criticism of the JFA.

Okada defied expectations by guiding Japan to the last 16 of this year's World Cup in South Africa, where they were beaten on penalties by Paraguay.

Zaccheroni is expected to take up his role after next month's home friendlies against Paraguay and Guatemala.

The Italian's first task is to lead the side at the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.

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