V-League the No.1 in Southeast Asia: Indonesia coach

The top-tier football league in Vietnam, V-League, is the number one in Southeast Asia in terms of attraction and quality of competition, said Indonesia’s head coach Alfred Riedl.

The Austrian-born man, who has 14 years of working as coaches in Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia, said footballers in Vietnam are paid higher salary and bonus than other nations in the region.

“It has drawn qualified players from Thailand, Singapore or Indonesia to enlist for V-League in Vietnam,” he said.

“Payment for domestic players in Vietnam is also higher than in Indonesia. That helps motivate players to strive to demonstrate themselves on the pitch to deserve the payment.”

The 62-year-old coach agreed that violence, match fixing and quality of referees have degraded football development but these problems are universal, not unique to Vietnam.

“In Indonesia, violence is even more serious than in Vietnam and referees seem unable to control it,” Riedl said.

Coach Riedl had three spells of training the Vietnamese national team, from 1998 – 2001, 2003-04, and 2005-07. He later came to Laos in 2009 and worked with Indonesia from 2010.

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Women's team targets Olympics

Focused: Members of the national women's football team train at Tam Dao Sports Centre in the northern province of Vinh Phuc. — VNS Photo Quang Thang

HA NOI — The women's football team would put aside its disappointment at not being able to defend its title at the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia and focus on the FIFA Women's Olympic Football Tournament 2012 qualifying campaign next month, Chinese coach Chen Yun Fat said.

The Indonesian organising committee has announced that female football will not be played at the Southeast Asian Games this year.

Viet Nam Olympic Committee general secretary Hoang Vinh Giang said it would be difficult to change the committee's decision.

Chen said: "At present, the team are training their physical strength at Tam Dao Sports Centre in the northern province of Vinh Phuc where the weather is very severe. It rains all day and is very cold.

"We always define that we must try our best against any rival at any tournament."

Chen also revealed that six young talented footballers had been added to the team and that the FIFA qualifiers tournament would hone their skills and experience.

The Asian Zone qualifiers start in March having three phases until September to determine the two teams that will represent Asia.

Viet Nam is in group A of the draw, which comprises Thailand, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Myanmar.

Group A and seven other teams from groups B and C – India, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Iran, Palestine and Jordan – will take part in the inaugural phase of qualification that kicks off on March 8 and winds up on March 27. — VNS

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Coach Hai appeals match ban

Coach Le Thuy Hai and his Lam Son Thanh Hoa team managers have sent a letter to appeal the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF)'s Discipline Department's decision to ban Hai from participating in two V-League matches.

According to the club's chair Nguyen Van De, the Discipline Department's decision to ban Hai for using improper language with a referee was not a convincing enough argument that explained why he was suspended.

De asked why the VFF waited 20 days before making their decision.

Hai was banned and fined VND5 million (US$230) after engaging in a verbal altercation with the referee Ngo Quoc Hung during a match between his team and Hoa Phat Ha Noi three weeks ago.

Hectic competition for tennis teen

Vietnamese teenager Nguyen Hoang Thien will compete in three international tournaments that will be held in Southeast Asia during the next two months.

He will compete at the International Tennis Federation's Malacca G4 tourney that will be held in Malaysia from February 28-March 4.

The ITF will be held in Thailand from March 7-12 where Thien will compete in the qualifying round.

He will compete at the Mitsubishi-Lancer from March 22-27 in Manila, the Philippines

Thien, who was the first Vietnamese player to compete at the Australian Juniors Open, will compete in France later this year.

Indonesia cuts events from Games

Indonesia will host the 26th Southeast Asian Games later this year. The country has decided to reduce the number of events at the event, including pencak silat. Vietnamese athletes have performed well in pencak silat events in the past.

Indonesia has also decided to eliminate six combat events, of which Viet Nam might have been able to win five. — VNS

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Top mark for fair play at chess's Aeroflot Open

Le Quang Liem (R) plays against Rauf Mamedov of Azerbaijan in the last round. They finally set for a tie

Vietnamese grandmaster Le Quang Liem, 20 and with Elo rating of 2,664, writes his name in the 10-year history of Russia’s Aeroflot Open chess tourney as the first player in the world for crowning the title twice in two consecutive years.

His victory this year came from his talent, of course, and the spirit of sportsmanship of other rivals, according to Liem’s coach, Lam Minh Chau.

Liem and Bulgarian grandmaster Ivan Cheparinov each had 6 points before the last round taking place, but Liem could only manage his best for a tie with GM Rauf Mamedov of Azerbaijan.

That means Cheparinov would be declared champion if he defeated Russian Nikita Vitiugov in their last game. That even didn’t happen thanks to the sporting spirit of all participants, especially from Vitiugov, who defeated Cheparinov in the last round to stamp out his hope.

Not waiting till the last round, the fair play spirit was actually honored right from the opening round, the coach remarked.

The coach added that Liem’s biggest progress at the tournament was his growing confidence. He showed no fright while staging against high-profile champions of the world and even challenged those rivals with attacks from the beginning.

In the second game against Chinese Deshun Xiu, Liem produced his far-thinking strategy by sacrificing his pawns. Experts later acknowledged his moves outsmarted his rival, forcing him to surrender.

Facing the world blitz chess champion Gata Kamsky of the US in the fourth round, Liem actively staged his attacking formation and sacrificed pawns to assault others. It stunned the wise Kamsky who was later forced to accept a loss.

Liem kept on the attacking tactics to pile up pressure against Ivan Cheparinov in the penultimate round, but he failed this time and it was his only loss at the tournament.

Liem applies the ancient proverb “it’s more difficult to defend than to attack”, and staged assaults after assaults tactically to defend his title and set up a historic record at Aeroflot Open.

Liem will automatically qualify for the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meet in Germany, which is the playing ground of only super grandmasters, meaning those with Elo rating from 2,700.

Liem and other participants are commendable for their sporting spirits at the event.

 

Liem (second, L) addresses the audience after crowning the championship title at the 2011 Aeroflot Open held in Russia from February 7-17

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Female football chopped from Games programme

HA NOI – Female football will not be played at the 26th South East Asian Games in Indonesia following a decision by the Indonesia organising committee, a major blow to the Viet Nam team which is the defending champion.

Viet Nam Olympic Committee general secretary Hoang Vinh Giang said it would be difficult to change the committee's decision.

Indonesia was not good at female football so the Games committee was not eager for this event, he said.

"The Games committee's reason is that they don't have enough football grounds," Giang said. "To organise the female football event, they need two Asian Football Confederation standard grounds, not including training grounds.

"The Viet Nam committee will give its opinion on this problem at the meeting with Indonesia to discuss competition programmes. We will request they hold female football. But in my experience, there is little chance to modify the Games committee's determination. They have the right to add or reject events."

Meanwhile, the national female football team, the Games defending champions, convened at the National Sports Training Centre in Ha Noi yesterday in preparation for tournaments this year, coached by Chinese Chen Yun Fat. They include the upcoming SEA Games and the Olympic London 2012 qualifying rounds.

Viet Nam Football Federation vice chairman Nguyen Lan Trung said the federation was waiting for the official announcement from the Games committee before adjusting the team's training schedule.

"Meanwhile, the federation would ask the Viet Nam Olympic Committee and football federations in the region to petition the Games committee to include female football in the programme for the 26th SEA Games," Trung said. – VNS

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Roma and Riise in ruins but hope springs eternal

Shakhtar Donetsk's Luiz Adriano (L) shoots and scores past AS Roma's Philippe Mexes during their Champions League soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Rome February 16, 2011

Photo: Reuters

"Crisis" and "nightmare" were phrases bandied about by media on Thursday to describe AS Roma's 3-2 defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, with John Arne Riise's slip for the third goal seen as symptomatic.

The last-16 first leg loss at home came after three games without a win in Serie A while the likely sale of the indebted club to an American consortium has added to the uncertainty surrounding under-fire coach Claudio Ranieri's future.

Ranieri has vowed not to quit and Riise, whose mistake let in Luiz Adriano for the Ukrainians' third on their knockout stage debut, tried to take the blame as Serie A was left reeling again following AC Milan's loss to Tottenham on Tuesday.

"I feel bad, my error was incredible. The fans are angry with me and I say sorry to everyone, team mates included. I don't think we played badly," Norwegian left back Riise, substituted at the break following the mistake, told Sky.

"I was ready to come back on but Ranieri told me I was coming off, I think for the error. I hope the fans know that I always give everything."

Roma took the lead in the 28th minute through midfielder Simone Perrotta's header but Shakhtar equalized a minute later through Jadson's fortunate deflection before fellow Brazilian Douglas Costa netted on 36 minutes.

Following Riise's aberration, Jeremy Menez picked his spot in the top corner after the break to give Roma some hope for the second leg in Ukraine on March 8.

Ranieri was upbeat about the performance and with a 2-0 win in Donetsk being enough to send the Romans through, the doom-mongers are perhaps a little premature despite Roma's eighth place in the Italian league.

New owners will also add impetus, whatever Ranieri's future, and a club the size of Roma can do little more than aspire to reach the Champions League last eight having surprised every fan in Italy with their stunning revival last season.

Whether Riise will be present in Donetsk remains to be seen.

AS Roma's Francesco Totti (L), Paolo Castellini and Nicolas Burdisso (R) react at the end of their Champions League soccer match against Shakhtar Donetsk at the Olympic stadium in Rome February 16, 2011. Shakhtar Donetsk won 3-2

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T&T set for Da Nang showdown

Comeback: Top striker Le Cong Vinh (right) of Ha Noi T&T will be back in action after a prolonged injury. — VNS Photo Quang Thang

HA NOI — The national football league resumes play today after a three-week Tet holiday break with a match between defending champions Ha Noi T&T and SHB Da Nang in the capital city.

The match is considered entrepreneur Do Quang Hien's own personal derby, as the businessman owns both teams.

The winner of the game will receive a huge bonus from Hien, who has urged both teams to compete in the spirit of fair play.

This is only the third season that Ha Noi T&T have been completing in the V-League- Eximbank Cup, but they have always won against Da Nang when playing at home.

In addition, Ha Noi T&T are in high spirits following victories in the first two matches of the season. They currently top the table, while Da Nang stand sixth following a victory and a loss.

Ha Noi T&T's fire power received a substantial boost today with the news that top national team striker Le Cong Vinh will be in the line up for the match, his first match after an injury eight months ago.

Vinh said he was very keen to get back into action.

"I have totally recovered and feel very strong," he said. "I hope I can play with the same skill as before my injury."

Vinh's return is a major boost for the team, which is seeking to extend its lead in the league.

Coach Phan Thanh Hung revealed that he added Vinh to the list of substitutes for today's game, and the striker will be allowed to play if he is needed.

"It is possible that Vinh will come off the bench," said Hung. "I will give him a chance to compete but it is not good for him if he is forced to play too much."

Apart from Vinh, T&T are also welcoming back former national player Thach Bao Khanh, who was rested for a month due to an ankle injury. Khanh, who joins the club from Thanh Hoa, is a tough midfielder and will make Hung's line-up more solid.

Former champs Da Nang also boast a strong line up. In preparation for the season, coach Le Huynh Duc has brought home several top players, including former national team captain Nguyen Minh Phuong.

Phuong will be a key player during the match, along with Argentinean Gaston Merlo who was the top goal scorer during the last two seasons and has scored twice already this season.

Duc and his players travelled to Ha Noi on Wednesday to familiarise themselves with the capital city's cold.

In the other matches tomorrow, Ha Noi ACB will play Hoang Anh Gia Lai at Hang Day; Vicem Hai Phong will face Dong Thap at Hai Phong's Lach Tray Stadium; hosts Ninh Binh will meet former champions Dong Tam Long An in Ninh Binh Province; Lam Son Thanh Hoa will clash with Navibank Sai Gon at Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City; two-time winner Becamex Binh Duong host dark horses Khatoco Khanh Hoa at Go Dau, and in Vinh, Song Lam Nghe An welcome Hoa Phat Ha Noi. — VNS

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