AFF Cup springs surprises

On a high: Filipino players celebrate their 2-0 win over Viet Nam in Group B in the ASEAN Football Championship in Ha Noi. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Thang

HCM CITY — With erstwhile minnows refusing to be overawed by powerhouse reputations, the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup could mark a new chapter in regional football.

The Philippines, comfortably wearing its underdog tag, is on the brink of making history while Singapore and Viet Nam, which are frequent semi-finalists at previous editions of the tournament, is on danger.

Six years ago, at the Tiger Cup 2004 (as the tournament was known then), Myanmar successfully entered the semifinals after surprisingly topping the group that included Thailand and Malaysia.

The Philippines now stands a good chance of repeating Myanmar's feat with at least a draw against the latter in the last round of the Group B match today.

In the meantime, Viet Nam, and Singapore, considered favourites for semi-final berths in the Group B, are on the brink of elimination. Malaysia qualified for semi-finals after beating Laos in the last match while the pre-tournament favourites Thailand, who lost 2-1 to Indonesia yesterday, was unexpectedly ousted from the tournament without a win.

"The loss against the Philippines is regretful for Viet Nam but the Philippines considered themselves the underdogs and chose a defensive approach and waited for chances. And they were successful," said Tran Cong Minh, former national defender.

"The match between Viet Nam and Singapore [today] promises to be a very exciting match and both teams have an equal chance."

Game changers

Indonesia and the Philippines are riding high on different styles of play, but both teams have players who can change the fortunes match.

Indonesia destroyed their opponents with dazzling attacks, using the service of Uruguayan-Indonesian Christian Gonzales.

Gonzales, top goal scorer at the Indonesian Super League for five consecutive years, is the talisman in his team's three impressive victories in the Group A. His class goal helped put Indonesia ahead in the opening match against Malaysia and gave his team the confidence to go on and complete a 5-1 win.

He was also the key player for Indonesia in the matches against Laos and Thailand. Gonzales showed his value at the right time, earning his team penalties, which helped settle his team.

Indonesian Austrian coach Alfred Riedl admitted that Gonzales' goals are turning points in wins over Laos and Thailand.

The Philippines has not been as impressive as Indonesia in their wins, but the four points they've got from two matches against title contenders Singapore and Viet Nam is far above their own expectations.

Their new players are making a difference. Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, trained in England, played his best game in the tournament so far on Sunday in the shock 2-0 win over defending champions Viet Nam.

While Etheridge was reliable in the goal, Philip Younghusband and Christopher Greatwich look sharpness up front.

"Besides having some good players, Indonesia have the advantage of playing at home," Minh said. — VNS

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Giang snags gold in youth wushu worlds

Viet Nam's Hoang Thi Phuong Giang pocketed a gold medal in the girls' daoshu event at the ongoing World Youth Wushu Championship in Singapore.

Phuong's Monday gold medal was the first for Viet Nam on the opening day of competition at the annual tournament. She later grabbed a bronze in the gunshu event.

Earlier team-mate Duong Thuy Vy took a silver in the girls' qiangshu while Cao Phat Dat earned a bronze in the boys' nandao.

Vietnamese sanshou (combat) artists also competed successfully with five qualifying for the semi-finals.

The championship featuring over 400 participants from 45 countries and territories will conclude today.

Duong wins National Matchplay

Vietnamese Nguyen Thai Duong won the Vietnam National Matchplay Championship at the Mongomerie Links golf course in the central province of Quang Nam.

He beat Andrew Hung Pham and Dang Hong Anh to win the title.

In the women's division, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung gave a perfect performance on the 18-hole course, dominating Ngo Thi An Trinh and Pham Thi Hong Lan to take the championship.

Scott Riddick took out the Vietnam International Championship, edging out Evan Mahoney and Jamie. Amateur Phan Thanh Chien finished first in the senior division.

The championship drew over 144 golfers competing in six men's and women's divisions with a handicap from nine to 24.

HCM City college tops volleyball tourney

HCM City's Sport College won the National Student Volleyball Tournament - Toyota Cup at Ha Noi's Cau Giay Gymnasium after a 3-0 win over Hong Bang International University in the men's final on Monday.

The Bac Ninh Sport College clinched the women's title. The men's and women's winners walked away with VND30 million (US$1,500) in prize money, and another bonus of VND50 million ($2,500) from the sponsor.

Last month, the Japanese carmaker agreed a 3-year deal to sponsor the annual tournament. — VNS

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Viet Nam target track and field glory

HA NOI — Vietnamese track and field athletes could seriously consider winning gold medals at the next Asian Games, according to coach Nguyen Dinh Minh.

"After ASIAD silver and bronze medals, I think that Viet Nam's track and field athletes can now target golds. Before (the ASIAD) it was a crazy thought but now we are close," said Minh, who coached Southeast Asian sprint queen Vu Thi Huong to 100m bronze and 200m silver medals last month.

Viet Nam also pocketed silvers in the women's 800m and 1,500m and a bronze in the men's decathlon.

These achievements were not thought possible when the team departed for the Guangzhou games. All the athletes wanted was to try their best to win Viet Nam's first ever track and field medal at the games.

"My athletes went to ASIAD having not had the best preparations so both coaches and athletes were under pressure, hoping to win an elusive medal. The runners had to really push themselves to improve in each round," Minh said.

"Viet Nam is starting to become competitive at the regional level where we have had some success, but we are still a long way from being able to make an impact at international competitions. If we receive good support and make plans, some of our athletes will have a chance to not only win an ASIAD gold but also to compete on the world stage," he confirmed.

Le Quy Phuong, head of Viet Nam's sport delegation at the Asian Games said: "The 16th ASIAD was a turning point for Vietnamese track and field. It proves being small does not mean we can't be successful. It's about selecting talented athletes and providing them with good training and support."

However, officials also said athletes should not be satisfied with their achievements, even though they had made the country proud.

"They (Vu Thi Huong, Truong Thanh Hang and Vu Van Huyen) are the golden generation of Viet Nam and they have shined at Asian and Southeast Asian competitions in recent years. The next generation of athletes are not currently strong enough to continue that success in the future," said Duong Duc Thuy, head of the Track and Field Department of the National Sports Administration.

He said the department planned to support elite athletes who would receive intensive training with a view to raising their competitiveness ahead of the London Olympics in 2012. — VNS

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ASEAN youth keen on HCM City home-stay

Delegates joining the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme had an
interesting experience on a home-stay duration in Ho Chi Minh City.

The 329 young people, who came from 10 member
countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and
Japan , arrived in the city on December 5 after visiting Malaysia ,
Thailand , Indonesia and Singapore .

During
their four-day stay in HCM City , the delegates participated in
cultural and sports exchanges with local youth and studied local
culture, manners and customs.

Sharing his feelings,
Kong Davon from Cambodia , said: “The Vietnamese people are very
friendly and hospitable. When I came to stay with them, all members of
the family took care of me. Despite the language difference, I felt the
care through their gestures. I am particularly interested in Hue
beef noodle soup.”

Meanwhile, Buama, a delegate from
the Philippines, talked of the deep impressions gained during walks
along the streets in the city where there are many beauty spots, wide
roads and rows of old trees.

The ship, which left
Japan ’s Yokohama Port on November 4, is scheduled to return to the
Japanese capital, Tokyo on December 8.

The
programme is an initiative of the Japanese Government and receives
cooperative assistance from the governments of ASEAN nations. It aims to
strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between young people
from Japan and Southeast Asian countries, and to provide a chance
for them to expand their view of the world, develop their creativity and
get to know about each other’s culture./.

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Dak Lak hangs on to vanishing heritage

The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak is being stripped of its
cultural heritage as gongs, drums and many ancient hunting knives and
tools are used to feed the thriving trade in ethnic antiques, officials
warn.

Buon Trap town in Krong Ana district boasts an all-woman team playing
the Jo, a gong designed exclusively for women of the E De ethnic group.

"The team play on two ten-gong sets which are owned by a local family.
Six gongs were sold to antique collectors in recent years and two others
were broken," said Tran Viet Du, an official with the district's
Culture Office said.

"When the team play the Jo, we have to rent gongs from a nearby town for the performers," Du said.

"Buon Trap is one of many locations in the province where gongs have
been sold to traders that can never be replaced again," said Y Wai Bya,
director of Dac Lac's Culture, Sports and Tourism Department.

"That is due largely to the poverty of the local people. Many people do
not hesitate to sell antique gongs to collectors to get large sums of
money," he said.

Du and Bya are among many officials who have expressed growing alarm about the antique trade in Central Highlands provinces.

"Researchers specialising in the Central Highlands' culture and history
need to come up with long-term strategies for the preservation of
gongs, drums and other old items relating to ethnic culture," Bya said.

Bya admitted that the province still lacked policies to
preserve gongs and train officials to gain a profound understanding of
traditional music and the culture of ethnic people.

Bya said the provincial People's Committee recently approved a policy to assist gong owners.

"Each family that owns an antique gong will receive an annual stipend
of 500,000 VND (25 USD) from the province," he said, giving no
further details.

The committee is also working on a
project to build in each village a museum to display traditional musical
instruments and items used in the daily lives of the ethnic people.

"More festivals will be organised in Dak Lak's villages and districts
where ethnic people can perform gongs, drums and introduce their folk
music to outside audiences," Bya said.

The centuries-old
gong music is a precious cultural heritage of Vietnam's ethnic people.
They play the gong to commemorate a good harvest, during festivals, and
to mark occasions like the birth of children, weddings, and funerals.

The Central Highlands gong culture was recognised as a Masterpiece of
Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2006.

Cultural researcher Y Duong, grandson of Y Jut Nie K'Dam, author of the
first Vietnamese – E De Dictionary, said he had spent many years working
on a project to protect gongs and would submit it soon to the Dak Lak
People's Committee for consideration.

Apart from ancient
gongs and drums, K'pan long benches used by gong performers and tools
used by hunters of elephants and wild animals are much sought after by
antique traders.

Ama Pet, a well-known elephant hunter in
Buon Don town, said he was among few people who still kept the leather
ropes used in elephant hunting.

Pet caught and
domesticated 15 elephants using his rope which is more than 10m in
length. Elephant hunting is now banned in Dak Lak. He said he intends to
sell his rope to have money to spend for the family.

He
said he has priced the rope at 15 million VND (750 USD) including a
piece of buffalo leather used to cover the back of the elephant./.

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Danish artist joins Vietnamese group

Ngoc Dai and his group Dai Lam Linh will perform with Danish saxophonist
Lotta Anker in a concert of contemporary music in Hanoi on Dec. 10.

The concert will also include singers Thanh Lam, Linh Dung, and Ha Linh,
the Thai Ha ca tru (ceremonial singing) troupe, and a 12-member string
band from the Vietnam Academy of Music.

The programme would aim to combine traditional and modern, Eastern and Western music, Dai said.

"The artists will perform as they tell stories in their own ways," said Dai.

"For instance, the song "Regret" will be performed three times,
experimentally by Linh Dung and Thanh Lam, in a pop style by Ha Linh,
and in Lotta Anker's version.

"I met Lotta last year and I like her very much," he added. "She listens my music too and I wanted to collaborate with her."

Anker arrived in Vietnam last week and has been rehearsing with Dai's band and material.

Dai debuted his first symphony in 1979 before he had even graduated
from the Vietnam National Academy of Music. He has written about 500
songs in various genres and released four CDs. His 2002 concert Solar
Eclipse I was a shock to the Vietnam music scene and was recognised as a
landmark of innovation and originality.

For this Dec.
10’s concert, the stage will be designed by artist Dang Huy Quyen in a
black-and-white motif echoing the yin and yang.

The
concert, funded by the Danish Culture Exchange and Development
Foundation, will take place at the 8pm at the Kim Ma Theatre, 71 Kim Ma
Street./.

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Photos of AO-affected Vietnamese children on Paris show

A photo exhibition of Vietnamese disabled teenagers who are victims of
Agent Orange was opened in gallery of the Maison du Vietnam (House of
Vietnam) in Paris on Dec. 6.

The exhibition, the first of its kind, with its title “Our Life and
Dreams”, is organised by the ‘Flowers of Hope’ Orange Association with
assistance from France’s Kodak film company. The event is under an
initiative of Australian photographer Katherine Muray, who taught these
unfortunate authors in the northern province of Ninh Binh and the
central coastal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam.

The exhibition
introduces entries selected from numerous photos taken by young people
of between 16-20 years old using digital automatic cameras provided by
Kodak film company. These are results of Muray’s week-long training
courses.

The authors are all disabled with mental deficiency or
hare lips and cleft palates caused by Agent Orange/dioxin. They are
unable to speak and learn but their works reflect the disabled’
sentiments of the surrounding world.

Muray said she would open more courses for disadvantaged children in other localities of Vietnam.

A larger exhibition of such works is planed to be held soon at the Vietnam Culture Centre in Paris./.

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