National football coach Henrique Calisto believes his U23 side can overcome its lack of experience and win the gold medal at the 25th South East Asian Games in Laos in December.

“I am an optimist and expect Vietnam to take the gold medal after 50 years.”

Calisto said it was too early and would be unfair to make any comments about the players after the first training session, and added that he and the whole team would do their best to win the regional championship.

U23 captain Pham Thanh Luong said winning in Laos would not be very difficult, if every member of the squad practiced hard for the next three months.

The midfielder, who was in the side that won the 2008 ASEAN Football Federation Cup, said Calisto knew what to do to help the U23 side to victory, like he did for the national team last year.

Reported by Lan Phuong & Le Ngo