VietNamNet Bridge – Former national player Nguyen Van Sy believes that Viet Nam will sail to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF)–Suzuki Cup final next month.

Breaking balls: Top Vietnamese striker Le Cong Vinh (right) tries to get past a Thai defender during a match in Ha Noi. Viet Nam will clash with Thailand in group competition at the ASEAN Football Championship next month.

“He can read the match well and understands his players,” Sy, who is coach of V-League side Vinakansai Ninh Binh, said about his former coach.

“The Vietnamese team have made progress with their offensive play in recent matches, coming out with a good fighting spirit,” the 37-year-old added.

Although Viet Nam have yet to taste victory in the eight matches since Calisto took power in April, the team had the perfect squad to prove competitive at the AFF Cup but were unable to mobilise.

According to Calisto, the Vietnamese footballers did not play technically badly or suffer from physical difficulties; the overall problem was that they lacked ideas and went into the games with a poor attitude.

The Portuguese coach also said Vietnamese footballers lacked professionalism. He told his team: “Your life is 90 minutes on the football field. The things that go on off the field should never influence your performance during a game.”

“Calisto’s coaching style has increased equality between players. His methods have earned the respect of his players, which makes them believe in him,” said Vuong Tien Dung, coach of V-League’s The Cong.

“In my opinion, Calisto is a clear-headed person who recognises the strong points of each player and knows how to bring them into play.”

The success of both coach and players were recognised by the chairman of the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF), Nguyen Trong Hy, who expressed his happiness despite loss.

“While watching the game [Viet Nam vs China], I thought more than once that Viet Nam could win.”

“We played a remarkable match against China’s Olympic team. I am surprised and very satisfied with what they have done,” he said. “I can see their confidence, their spirit and their desire for victory. They will be an excellent football team.”

Six years ago, when Calisto first trained the national team, he discovered new talents including Tran Truong Giang, Trinh Xuan Thanh, Phan Van Tai Em and Nguyen Minh Phuong. They are all now key players on their local teams as well as on the national squad.

This year, Calisto shocked the football community when he included three 19-year-old members on the roster, a first in the history of Vietnamese football.

Earlier this month, Calisto recruited Olympic striker Phan Thanh Binh, who helped his team win the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia last month after a 42-year wait. Veterans Tran Truong Giang and Nguyen Minh Phuong, who played in the 2002 Tiger Cup, were also recruited.

Coach Calisto has some secret weapons in store for opposing teams in upcoming matches. Rising-star Pham Thanh Luong, on the left-wing, striker Nguyen Viet Thang and Golden Ball winner Le Cong Vinh are key members of the team line-up.

Viet Nam drew with Thailand 2-2 and North Korea 0-0 to rank second at the T&T Cup.

The team will play the second of a friendly series against Singapore next Wednesday. The first leg match in Ha Noi last month ended with a goalless draw.

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.

Viet Nam hasn’t won the AFF Cup since its debut in Singapore in 1996.

(Source: Viet Nam News)