Viet Nam, Thailand to play in friendly

The country”s “golden generation” will play against Thailand in a friendly match to honour Vietnamese players, organised by Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper, at HCM City”s Thong Nhat Stadium on September 3.

The golden generation won a clutch of medals in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the Tiger Cup to make Viet Nam a soccer power house in the region during the 1995-2000 period.

The generation took Viet Nam to the finals of the 18th SEA Games in 1995 against Thailand, 20 years after reunification and six years after the country returned to participate in the SEA Games.

The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) has called 18 veterans for the clash against Thai veterans, who had faced each other in many matches in the SEA Games and the Tiger Cup.

Viet Nam will be coached by former coach Pham Huynh Tam Lang and assistants Tran Duy Long and Duong Ngoc Hung. The team will have three goalkeepers Nguyen Van Cuong and Tran Minh Quang from Binh Dinh, and Nguyen Van Phung of Sai Gon Port.

The five defenders, who will take part in the friendly, are Nguyen Manh Cuong of The Cong, or Army team, who is now the coach of the U-21 team of The Cong, and Nguyen Duc Thang, HCM City Customs Do Khai, Tran Cong Minh of Dong Thap and Nguyen Huu Thang of Song Lam Nghe An.

The midfield will see The Cong”s playmakers Nguyen Hong Son, Trieu Quang Ha and Truong Viet Hoang.

Midfielder Vo Hoang Buu of Sai Gon Port, known for his penalties, former Khanh Hoa star Nguyen Huu Dang, who now plays for Southern Steel-Sai Gon Port, and Nguyen Van Sy of Nam Dinh will add strength to the team.

The team”s strikers include former HCM City Police and Eastern Asia Bank (V-League promoters Southeast Asia-Pomina Steel) star Le Huynh Duc, who now plays for V-League side Da Nang, Huynh Quoc Cuong of Dong Thap, Van Sy Hung of Song Lam Nghe An and Tran Minh Chien, who played earlier for HCM City Police.

After 1995, Viet Nam has beaten Thailand only once during the Tiger Cup in Viet Nam in 1998. The Thailand team will have well known veterans from the SEA Games and the Tiger Cup, and will be coached by former coach Virach Chanpanich.

Thai “Zico,” striker Kiatisuk Senamuang, who helped Hoang Anh Gia Lai promote the V-League from the First Division in 2001, Tawan Sripan and Dusit Charlemsan, who also plays for Gia Lai, are expected to play.

Chukiat Noosaluang, Choketawee Promrut and Worrawoot Srimaka, Thai players in Viet Nam, are also expected to take part in this friendly.

The National Sports and Physical Training Committee will honour Vietnamese players for their contributions to sports, and Thai striker Kiatisuk will be honoured for his contributions to Viet Nam”s football at the event.

When contacted, veteran soccer stars of yesteryears reacted emotionally to the upcoming event. “I have expected a match like this for years. It”s the 10th anniversary of our generation who took part in the 18th SEA Games,” said midfielder Vo Hoang Buu.

(VNS)