VietNamNet Bridge – Coach Henrique Calisto will bring five young players from the Olympic football team to the national squad in preparation for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship.

Calisto has not tasted victory since taking charge of the team, losing to China’s Olympic team, Indonesia, and Olympic Brazil in quick succession. (Photo: VNN)

Calisto aims to give the players the chance to develop their skills during team training in the weeks prior to the Suzuki Cup. After intense training and evaluation, the best players, young and old, will be listed on the final AFF Cup roster.

Last week, Calisto recruited Olympic striker Phan Thanh Binh, who helped his team win the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia last month after a 42-year- long wait, and veteran Tran Truong Giang, who played in the 2002 Tiger Cup.

Viet Nam have not won the AFF Cup since its debut in Singapore in 1996.

Calisto has not tasted victory since taking charge of the team, losing to China’s Olympic team, Indonesia, and Olympic Brazil in quick succession.

At the HCM City international football tournament, the SJC Eximbank Cup last month, the team lost three straight to Myanmar, Turkmenistan, and the student team from South Korea.

Fortunately, coach Calisto does have some secret weapons in store for opposing teams. Rising-star Le Thanh Luong, playing left-wing, striker Nguyen Viet Thang and Golden Ball winner Le Cong Vinh are key members of the team line-up.

During Sunday’s training, Calisto drilled players in side blocking tactics in preparation for Sunday’s match against Thailand at the My Dinh National Stadium.

Viet Nam resumed training in Ha Noi last Friday for the T&T Cup match against Thailand, which was delayed due to heavy rain in Ha Noi on November 1.

Viet Nam must beat Thailand in the match to take the T&T Cup after their goal-less draw against North Korea.

Thailand, which took a 1-0 win over North Korea in the opener, need a draw to take the podium.

“Thailand are very strong with their side attacks, so our defenders should be aware of the danger. The defence must pay close attention to their field position,” Calisto said.

Viet Nam’s arch-rival Thailand have drawn Group B, with Viet Nam, Malaysia and Laos for the AFF Cup.

Viet Nam will play Thailand - three-time winners of the tournament - on December 6. They are set to play against Malaysia on December 8 and Laos four days later in Bangkok.

(Source: Viet Nam News)