The national female football squad’s goal of winning the gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games 2009 is threatened because their key striker, Ngoc Cham, remains on the injured list.

Striker Ngoc Cham (No. 9).

Ngoc Cham is currently the best striker of the women’s national squad, so the offense arranged by Coach Chen Yun Fat focuses on her.

The striker suddenly suffered an injury in late October 2009 and her doctors say it requires a long recovery period.

Ngoc Cham cannot exercise, but the coach still brought her to Japan on the team’s drilling trip and hoped that Japanese doctors could help. After ten days, the injury showed no improvement.

The coach decided to leave Ngoc Cham at home while the team is trains in Tam Dao. This also means that Chen Yun Fat has decided not to use her at the upcoming SEA Games in Laos. Halfback Minh Nguyet will replace Ngoc Cham.

“This is the only solution. This replacement is unavoidable and it can affect the Vietnamese team’s attacks,” the coach stated.

Five teams will compete in SEA Games 2009’s women’s football category, including Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar. They will play in a round robin to choose the two top teams for the final match.

Chen Yun Fat said that Vietnam and Thailand will be the two major players at the tournament.

Vietnam was the champion for three consecutive games in 2001, 2003 and 2005. In 2007, the team lost to Thailand. This year Vietnam aims to regain its title.

Coach Chen Yun Fat has a set list of 21 players, one of whom must be left at home in the final minutes. The coach has kept Ngoc Cham on the list, hoping she might make a surprising recovery.

The list of the national women’s football squad:

Goalkeepers: Dang Thi Kieu Trinh, Do Thi Thu Trang

Fullbacks: Dao Thi Mien, Nguyen Thi Nga, Nguyen Thi Ngoc ANh, Nhieu Thuy Linh, Bui Thi Tuyet, Nguyen Hai Hoa

Halfbacks: Nguyen Thi Mai Lan, Le Thi Thuong, Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, Tu Thi Phu, Nguyen Thi Muon, Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, Tran Thi Kim Hong, Van Thi Thanh

Strikers: Doan Thi Kim Chi, Bui Thi Phuong, Le Thi Oanh, Nguyen Thi Nguyet, Do Thi Ngoc Cham.

PV