Twenty players in the national women’s football squad arrived at the Vientiane Airport at 10.30am, December 2 to a warm welcome from Vietnamese Laotians.

The Wattay Airport was overwhelmed by flowers from Vietnamese people living in Vientiane. Fans in attendance all hoped the team would regain its championship this year.

“We are very moved by the sentiments of fans in Laos. We promise to do our best to reach the finals and win the gold medal,” said captain Dao Thi Mien.

The team went to Laos without influential striker Ngoc Cham, who is currently injured - a great loss for the team at the SEA Games.

Captain Dao Thi Mien

However, halfback Kim Chi stated confidently: “Ngoc Cham is the top striker in Vietnam at present. Without her presence, we are weaker. But chief coach Chen Yun Fat has replacement. I will do my best to live up to the welcomes received by the fans”.

“Thailand and Myanmar are the top rivals but I think that Vietnam can defeat them,” commented halfback Van Thi Thanh.

The women’s football event will kick off on December 4 with five teams including Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos playing in a round robin format to choose two teams playing in the semi-final.

Halfback Kim Chi

Vietnam has the advantage of facing underdogs Malaysia at their first match. They have defeated Malaysia six times including a record high score of 11-0 in the 2008 Southeast Asian Football Cup. They will later play Laos and watch their two archrivals Thailand and Myanmar clashing in the final game.

Arriving in Laos on December in the same flight with the women’s football squad were 12 members of the Vietnamese cycling team.

The list of the 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.

VietNamNet/VNE