VietNamNet Bridge – The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has met in Malaysia to see to the necessary preparations for the AFF Cup 2008 in December and plan for the next year of Southeast Asian football.

AFF officials decided that group B, including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Laos, will stay at the Radison Hotel in Bangkok and play on the 65,000 seat Rajamangala National Stadium.

AFF also told members of the football federations that as of December 4, all national football squad must wear “clean” uniforms, meaning that there can be no advertising on their uniforms or equiptment until the end of the AFF Cup.

The host country will officially welcome national teams on December 5. The Vietnamese team will come to Thailand on December 2 so the Vietnam Football Federation will have to pay for two early days.

Participating teams are allowed to register 30 players, which will be shortlisted to 22 on December 5, and ten officials, including coaches and doctors.

VFF registered the colour red for the Vietnamese squad in the three qualifier rounds.

VFF has registered to host the Southeast Asia U19 Championship and the Southeast Asia Futsal Championship 2009, and a training course for technical managers up to FIFA standards in 2009.

After this meeting, VFF Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy, Secretary General Tran Quoc Tuan and Office Chief Le Hoai Anh will attend a special meeting of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Shanghai, China from November 22-26. AFC will announce the winner of football titles for 2008. VFF is one of the three nominees for the “Best National Football Federation,” along with Jordan and Australia.

VFF is nominated for this title because this year it successfully organized several international events, such as the final round of the Asian Women’s Football Championship in June, the final round of the Southeast Asia Women’s Football Championship in October, the HCM City Cup, and the T&T Cup.

At this meeting, VFF will lobby for funding of $200,000 from the Goal Project for Vietnam’s young football players.

(Source: KT&DT)