Injuries to key strikers and an interminable pre-tournament training camp were the reasons for Vietnam’s early exit from last month’s Southeast Asian Football Championship, officials and coaches who reviewed the fiasco at a meeting Thursday agreed.
The Vietnam Football Federation’s National Board of Coaches said the squad had virtually no forwards following injuries to Cong Vinh and Viet Thang.
Things got worse after four other key players, defenders Quang Thanh and Viet Cuong and midfielders Tai Em and Trong Hoang, had to sit out the second leg of the semifinal against Malaysia in Hanoi due to injuries and bookings.
In the event, Vietnam were held to a goalless draw and crashed out. They had lost the first leg 2-0.
Malaysia went on to beat Indonesia in the final to win the title.
Vietnam’s Portuguese coach Henrique Calisto and officials also admitted that the two-month training camp before the tournament in December drained the players.
The VFF and Calisto decided that in future camps will be no longer than three weeks.
The National Board of Coaches said errors by goalkeeper Tan Truong and Calisto himself were partially to blame for the loss.
Calisto will, however, continue to be in charge at the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia and World Cup qualifiers this year. His contract with Vietnam only expires in 2013.
He gets a monthly salary of US$22,000 and other perks, including accommodation, flight tickets to Portugal for his annual vacation, health insurance, and possible bonuses for good performances.
Calisto took over the squad in March 2008.
