Philippines stagger Viet Nam

Bouncing with joy: Chris Greatwich (left) of the Phillipines celebrates with his teammates after scoring the opening goal against Viet Nam in their 2-0 victory. The win marks their new point as it is the first time they defeat Southeast Asian powerhouse Viet Nam in a football event. — VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI — The Philippines showed everyone that they are not competing in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 just for fun with a 2-0 win over Viet Nam at Ha Noi's My Dinh Stadium yesterday.

The visitors created the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a strong defensive display that left defending champions Viet Nam searching for answers in their second group B match.

It was the first time the Philippines had ever beaten Viet Nam in an international tournament.

Chris Greatwich opened the scoring for the Philippines in the 38th minute and Philip Younghusband added a second in the 78th minute, both from counter-attacks resulting from mistakes by the hosts who left themselves thin at the back as they went in search of a goal.

Their victory was a great gift to chief coach Simon McMenemy who will be 33 today.

McMenemy, who is on a four-month contract with the Philippines, fielded a defensive line up that succeeded in dominating the midfield, not allowing the Vietnamese players a chance to get into their stride.

"I am pleased with the way my players did. They overcome the obstacle of Viet Nam today," said McMenemy.

"I told them before the match that they should keep working hard and play their best and wait for some luck. They had a good game and converted two out of three chances into goals," he added.

However Viet Nam's manager Henrique Calisto did not agree with his colleague.

"[Despite loss] I congratulate my players because they played with a lot of effort until the last minute. But they were the only side that played football today. You can lose the game but you must lose with honour," the Portuguese coach said, adding that the visitors had parked a double decker in front of their net to stop Viet Nam from scoring.

"I told my team that the Philippines are good in defence and they proved that today with eight players on their team. If Viet Nam had scored once, things would have been different," Calisto said.

The Philippines now top group B with one win and one draw, and know that they only need a draw in their next game against Myanmar to book a place in the semi-finals.

Viet Nam take on Singapore on Wednesday and need to win in order to be guaranteed of a semi-final spot. A draw would only be good enough if Myanmar defeat the Philippines, which many people think is highly unlikely.

In the early match yesterday, Singapore came from behind to beat Myanmar 2-1 to rank second in the group while Viet Nam dropped to third after two matches. — VNS

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VN plan for extra height, fitness

HA NOI — The Viet Nam Sport Science Institute has submitted details of a proposed pilot project titled, Improving the Strength and Height of the Vietnamese People, to the Government for approval.

Former Viet Nam Sport Science Institute director Duong Nghiep Chi, who chaired the committee which designed the project, said the plan included ways to improve the fitness of Vietnamese sportsmen and women from next year until 2030.

"We sent the revised plan, which was started in 2000, to the Government early this week and I hope it will soon approve the project," he said.

The project was designed to benefit sports persons as well as help sports administrators scout for talent.

A survey the former director sponsored found that Vietnamese from six to 18 were weaker than Southeast Asians and Asians of the same age.

The proposed project includes a programme to enhance the strength and height of more than 33,000 students from 132 schools throughout Viet Nam.

It is intended to encourage them to take full advantage of nutrition regimes, exercise plans and selected sports.

It would also have sites reserved for the construction of sports complexes for after-school activities. — VNS

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Masters set for showdown

Vietnamese masters will take part in the first Southeast Asian Individual Chess Championship in Singapore next week.

The tournament will be held every two years by the Southeast Asian Chess Federation with a view of developing the regional chess movement.

Eight or nine delegations will join this debut event, which is also an opportunity for players to warm up ahead of the next December's SEA Games in Indonesia.

General Secretary of the Viet Nam Chess Federation Dang Tat Thang said Viet Nam would participate in both men's and women's categories.

After the championship, the Vietnamese players will enjoy a short break before being summoned in early 2011 to a range of international tournaments.

Seminar spotlights VN taekwondo

How to boost the capacity of Vietnamese taekwondo athletes and improve Viet Nam-South Korea co-operation in this martial art topped the agenda of a seminar in Ha Noi on Saturday.

The seminar was co-organised by the Viet Nam Taekwondo Federation (VTF), the South Korean Cultural Centre and the South Korean Taekwondo Instructors Association (RTIA) in Viet Nam.

Head of RTIA in Viet Nam Kim Jung-sik said the athletes' rapid adaptability to scientific devices and modern technology plays an important role in achieving success, as they help them to achieve high results in international and regional competitions.

This is a lesson the Korea has drawn from its failures at ASIAD 16, especially after one of the country's athletes lost to his Iranian rival because he had yet to adapt to changes in the electronic breastplates.

VTF General Secretary Truong Ngoc De said Viet Nam needed to build effective competition methods and improve the quality of athlete selection if it wanted to regain its top regional position and win gold medals in ASIAD and the London Olympics in 2012.
Taekwondo has developed strongly in Viet Nam in recent years, with more than 40,000 athletes training across the country.

Japanese perform martial arts

The Japanese Embassy, in co-ordination with the Aikido Yukishudokan and Kendo Ha Noi Clubs, held an Aikido and Kendo performance in the capital on Saturday.

Speaking at the event, Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Yasuaki Tanizaki said that Aikido and Kendo were Japan's two traditional martial arts which represent the unique cultural identity of people from the country of cherry blossoms.

He expressed his wish that the performance would help Vietnamese people, especially young people, understand more about the Japanese culture, and strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding between the two nations.

Formed 1,200 years ago, Kendo uses bamboo sticks to attack with the aim of strengthening physical and spiritual health as well as improving concentration in study and work. — VNS

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Singapore edge Myanmar 2-1

Bin Isahak (red) of Singapore are fighting for the ball with Aung Win of Myanmar

Photo: Tuoi Tre

The three-time champion Singapore came from behind to narrowly win the underdog Myanmar 2-1 in the group B’s second match-day today at the Southeast Asian Football Championship, Suzuki Cup, in Hanoi.

The opening goal was written for defender Lwin Khin Maung of Myanmar in the 13 minute after a fast counterattack.

With the Myanmarese defence showing much better discipline after losing 7-1 to hosts Vietnam in the opener, the Singaporeans were reduced to shooting from distance but none was successfully converted into goal during the first half.

In the second phase, Singapore piled up more pressure, playing with sometimes three strikers.

In the 62nd minute, forward Aleksander Duric leveled it 1-1 following an attack launched from the right flank.

And the last-gasp goal by Agu Cashmir in the 90th minute gave Singapore the first win and also helped relive their hope to advance at the tournament.

Both sides produced a lackluster performance with the struggle for the ball mainly taking place in the midfield where both troops were disposed heavily.

In the opening matchday on Thursday, Singapore tied 1-1 with the Philippines while hosts and defending champions Vietnam thrashed Myanmar 7-1.

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Thailand the worst in the last two decades

Former captain of Thailand, Kiatisak Senamuang

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Managing to make two ties at the Southeast Asian Football Championship, Suzuki Cup and facing risks of being eliminated for the first time at the tournament, the national team of Thailand are judged the worst squad in the last two decades of the nation.

Kiatisak Senamuang, Thai former captain international and coach of Vietnam’s top-flight club Hoang Anh Gia Lai, confirmed it to Tuoi Tre. He attributed the failure to fitness and preparations.

Thailand, the nine-time champions of Olympic-level Southeast Asian Games and three-time champions of Southeast Asian Football Championship, were held to 2-2 and 0-0 draws with Laos and Malaysia on December 7 and will play the last game in group A against hosts Indonesia with six points after two wins.

Malaysia and Laos, each holding a point, will face each other in the last group stage

Thai players are not in their best form and fitness, Kiatisak admitted.

“They played fouls 15 times with Malaysians due to their failure in fighting for the ball,” he admitted.

“In the last 20 years, Thai football has never fallen in such a trouble at such a regional tournament,” Kiatisak added.

Poor performance of Thailand was also attributed to preparations when players started their training camp around two weeks before the tourney.

“I will discuss why Thai football is on the decline later,” Kiatisak told Tuoi Tre.

Group A Standings:

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Points
Indonesia	2	2	0	0	11	1	6
Thailand	2	0	2	0	2	2	2
Malaysia	2	0	1	1	1	5	1
Laos	2	0	1	1	2	8	1

 Group B Standings:

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Points
Vietnam	1	1	0	0	7	1	3
Philippines	1	0	1	0	1	1	1
Singapore	1	0	1	0	1	1	1
Myanmar	1	0	0	1	1	7	0

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Indonesia rout Laos 6-0

Photo: AFF

Hosts Indonesia kept their AFF Suzuki Cup dreams on track when they sensationally swept Laos aside 6-0 last night to emerge champions of Group A even though they still have one more match to play.

Indonesia have six points while Thailand and Malaysia will have to fight for the remaining semifinal slot.

Thailand, one of the pre-tournament favourites, dug themselves into a spot when despite dominating the match ended up sharing points with Malaysia. With two points in the bag, Thailand now have to beat Indonesia to advance.

At the Gelora Bung Karno last night, in front of over 40,000 fans, Indonesia knew what they had to do and took the fight opened the floodgates with a 26th minute penalty converted by skipper Firman Utina. Muhammad Ridhwan doubled the score just seven minutes later and the score remained until the break.

Five minutes after resumption, Indonesia continued their spree with a superb strike from Firman, his second of the match. Irfan Harrys Bachdim struck his second goal of the event when he made a lovely run into the box, easing past his markers to make 4-0 in the 62nd minute. Substitute Arif Suyono scored six minutes after coming on for Ridhwan. The speedy Oktovianus Maniani completed the rout in the 80th minute.

“It was a big win and I credit the players for their untiring efforts. Although we are already in the semifinals, we will not take it easy against Thailand in our last match,” said Alfred Ridle, head coach of Indonesia.

For Laos the loss was a bitter blow following their superb performance against Thailand two days earlier. But as coach David Booth explained: “Against a team like Indonesia or for that matter Thailand or Malaysia, you just can’t afford to make mistakes, you have to minimize them. Unfortunately, we conceded a penalty and then the second goal. It was difficult for a team like ours to bounce back, we are not that strong.”

Booth said that instead of keeping the score down, the team decided to go for the game. “We did not sit back, unfortunately it did not work. And then we conceded the early goal in the second half.”

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Thais fire blanks to share points with Malaysia

Photo: AFF

Thailand made life difficult for themselves in the AFF Suzuki Cup when they were held to a 0-0 draw by an under-strength Malaysian side in the second Group A match at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium Saturday.

Thailand, who were surprisingly held by Laos in the opener on Wednesday, now have two points and must defeat hosts Indonesia in their final preliminary tie next Tuesday if they want to make the cut.

Malaysia, whipped 5-1 by Indonesia four days ago, on the other hand earned themselves a lifeline with the draw yesterday. They now have to beat Laos in two days, and also hope Thailand slip-up, to have a go of making the semifinals. But the draw did not come easy as the Malaysians had to absorb a barrage of strikes from the tireless Thais. The defenders performed well to turn it all away.

Thailand, which almost dominated much of the game, must have had at least 20 shots with one coming off the post, an indication that they were just short of some luck.

“It’s not frustrating any more, it seems like I getting used to watching the team completely dominate, create numerous opportunities and then waste them all. The last 15 minutes especially we had about four good chances including a possible penalty,” said a disappointed Bryan Robson, the Thai head coach. “It was another case of that tonight.”

“I would have liked to have won today but now we have to do things the hard way, it’s going to be a tough task to beat Indonesia at home,” Robson said. He added that his team had done enough in both matches but just did not score.

Thailand as expected fielded their best side, bringing in the talented midfielder Datsakorn Thonglao and Phitchitphong Choeichiu, striker Teerasil Dangda and tough-tackling defenders Natthapong Samana and Nataporn Phanrit. But to Robson’s dismay, the players were just not able to bring out their best. Many of the players are jaded after a long domestic season which only ended on November 28.

Realising they had to win, the Thais went on the offensive from the start but failed to finish anything they started. Malaysia too had some chances and could have actually stunned the Thais but Norsharul Idlan Talaha and Mohd Safee Sali missed several good chances. In the dying minutes, S. Kunalan had a brilliant chance to turn hero but his shot swept over the crossbar.

“We knew Thailand would field their best and we knew it would be difficult. To prepare for them, I made three changes including the goalkeeper. I told the boys that they must avoid making mistakes as the back and the defence did well today,” K. Rajagobal said.

“It was a tough first half as they attacked us, but in the second half we had more life and energy. We had some chances and I feel we should have scored earlier. However having scored first would have collected three points.”

On Laos, Rajagobal said they had shown they were no pushovers and expected yet another tough game next Tuesday.

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