Coach Graechen names squad for U19 AFC event

Guillaume Graechen put 23 players on the list for the final round of the 2014 AFC U19 Championship to be held in Myanmar.

The coach added three new players: goalkeeper Minh Long, fullback Ksor Uc and halfback Thanh Hau. The remaining players are familiar names.

The French also included experienced halfback Nguyen Tuan Anh, who has recovered from injury.

In preparation for the event, which will take place on October 9-23, the team had a training session at the Ham Rong Sport Centre in the Central Highland province of Gia Lai.

They are mentally and physically prepared for the challenges at the event and will leave for Myanmar tomorrow, according to Doan Nguyen Duc, Viet Nam Football Federation's deouty chairman and head of the team at the event.

Viet Nam are in Group C and set to face strong rivals South Korea on October 9, Japan on October 11 and China two days later.

The team had a convincing performance in the ASEAN Football Federation U19 Nutifood Cup last month. However, they lost to Japan in the final match.

Hai begins sixth stint as Binh Duong coach

Le Thuy Hai has agreed to continue as coach of the V-League team Becamex Binh Duong, marking the sixth time that he was retained as team coach since 2007.

"The club and coach Hai have agreed to extend the contract. We truly understand each other, so our contract doesn't have excessive ties," said Cao Van Chong, general director of Binh Duong Football Jointstock Company.

Hai, 68, came back to Binh Duong after the fourth round of the V-League, when the team earned only one point, and led them to a third title one round before the tournament ended. He also coached the team to win titles in 2007 and 2008.