Vietnamese players training at Ho Chi Minh City’s Thanh Long Stadium for the upcoming ASEAN Football Federation Cup

An urgent meeting of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Friday did not make a final decision on the host country for the Group B round of the AFF Cup, which was to be held in Thailand, Vietnam football officials said.

The Thai government on Thursday announced a state of emergency after armed gunmen seized control of Bangkok’s two main airports.

VFF General Secretary Tran Quoc Tuan and Vice President Duong Vu Lam, who is also the AFF vice president, attended the Friday meeting. Tuan and Lam told reporters three options were discussed at the meeting.

First, the group B matches could be played in Bangkok on December 6 to 12 as earlier scheduled if the Football Association of Thailand proves they can meet security requirements.

Second, if AFF decides not to allow Thailand to host the matches, Vietnam will host Group B if the Singapore-based World Sports Group – the exclusive marketing partner of AFF and cup co-organizer – has enough time to prepare.

The last plan is for the four teams in Group B to play in Jakarta together with Group A, which comprises of hosts Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar and Cambodia.

VFF President Nguyen Trong Hy said he believed Vietnam should host the Group B matches in light of the current political turmoil in Thailand.

“Vietnam has successfully hosted events bigger than the AFF Cup, such as the 2007 Asian Cup,” Hy said. “In addition, Vietnam’s facilities are already available and meet AFF requirements.”

After Friday’s meeting in Kuala Lumpur, VFF officials met to discuss what preparations are needed if Vietnam is asked to host Group B.

Football Association of Thailand President Datuk Worawi Makudi told Thai newspapers on Thursday that his agency would try its best to keep the matches.

In related news, the Bangkok Post reported Friday that Thai head coach Peter Reid would announce the 22 players for the AFF immediately after the team returns to Bangkok today from a training camp in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The newspaper reported Reid was hoping the injured Kritsadee Prakobkong would be fit for the tournament.

“I want him in the team because he played well against Vietnam, but if he cannot recover we have plenty of options,” the Bangkok Post quoted the Englishmen as saying.

Concerning reports that the event could be moved to another country due to the tense political situation in Bangkok, Reid said he would prefer it if his team played in front of their own fans. However, the team was prepared to play anywhere if necessary.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese players under Portuguese-born coach Henrique Calisto are training in Ho Chi Minh City.

Earlier this week, Vietnam drew 2-2 with AFF defending champions Singapore in an away friendly. On November 16, Calisto’s men drew 2-2 with the Thais in Hanoi in the last game of the T&T Cup.

In earlier matches to prepare for the ASEAN Cup, the Vietnamese players lost 0-1 to Indonesia, 2-3 to the Chinese Olympic team, 0-2 to Brazil’s Olympic team and 0-1 to a Korean University team.

Given the two draws with Thailand and Singapore, Calisto said his squad were on the right track for the AFF Cup.

At the 2002 regional cup, Vietnam, also under the Portuguese coach, won the bronze medal.

Reported by Tuong Thuy