U-22 coach says he didn’t overlook any ace players
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Báo Tuổi Trẻ English
- 12 month(s) ago
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Newly-appointed head coach of the Vietnamese national Under-22 football squad Mai Duc Chung says he has not overlooked any ace players during the team recruitment in preparation for the qualifier for the 2012 Asian Football Championship.
The public has been wondering why midfielder Huu Khoi (9) was not recruited to the national U-22 squad Photo: Tuoi Tre
Chung had a talk with Tuoi Tre following insider criticism that many excellent footballers are not included in the 24 players shortlisted for the U-22 team.
“I can say that the list consists of most of the most excellent players of Vietnamese football at this age level,” confirmed Chung, adding he has selected them from 60 players recommended by the national coach committee and coaches at local football clubs.
* How did the recruitment progress work?
The national coach committee, including four other members and myself, has taken turns to observe the matches at the V-League and the First and Second Division to make up a 30-player list.
We also asked the coach at the local level to recommend 30 more players. I myself have observed 4 – 5 matches in the V-League and the First Division to recruit footballers.
* What about the case of forward Huu Khoi, who performed impressively at Nam Dinh FC and in the national U-21 team for the international championship last year, and midfielders Anh Quang and Van Nam, who were in the U-23 squad at SEA Games 26?
I did add these players to the list but the superiors at Nam Dinh FC demanded that they stay at the club to help promote it to the First Division next season.
Seeing that the practice session for the Asian championship is too short, and the Vietnamese team has little chance at this tourney, I have agreed to have the 3 players stay at their club.
The public also questioned why I had not called midfielder Danh Ngoc of Vissai Ninh Binh, but they do not know that he was born in 1990, while it’s required by AFC that players for the U-22 squad must be born in 1991 or later.
* What did you think when the public said some of the recruited players this time, such as forward Trung tin of TDC Binh Duong, midfielder Thien Nhan of TCS Dong Thap, or Dinh Hoang of Song Lam Nghe An, are not really excellent?
First, I have to respect the recommendation of the local coaches. Second, the same respect should be paid to the national coach committee.
As for the case of Thai San and Duong Van An of Da Nang, they were recommended by coach Le Huynh Duc following my request. Duc said they have played well in the First Division.
* Do you think that all of the above players deserve to play at the national U-233 squad?
The list might be imperfect, but I don’t think we missed any ace players, and those chosen all deserve it.