The General Department of Sports and Physical Training has allocated US$680,000 for the training of Vietnamese national men and women football squads for the 2012 season.

The women squad will have three domestic training sessions, and two overseas ones this year to prepare for the second qualifier for 2012 AFC Women's Championship, taking place from May 31 to June 9, and the 2012 ASEAN Women’s Championship, from October 10 to 23.

Meanwhile, the Under-22 men team will attend the qualifications of the 2012 AFC Asean Championship this June to select qualified players for the recruitment of the Under-23 squad, which will compete at the 27th SEA Games.

In December, the Vietnamese national men football team will participate in the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, jointly hosted by Thailand and Malaysia.

Under the plan approved by the general department and Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the national team will have four consecutive training sessions from August to November.

They will also have two friendly games with Thailand, and attend the Ho Chi Minh City International Football Cup and VFF Cup, prior to the journey at 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup.

“Thailand and Vietnam have agreed on organizing the friendly matches in Hanoi and Bangkok, as tests for the official formation to play at Suzuki Cup,” said newly-appointed VFF general secretary Ngo Le Bang.

Bang added that the two countries’ football federations will work together before signing the official contract.

Tuoitre