VietNamNet Bridge - Coach Hoang Van Phuc of the U23 national football team has submitted his resignation to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) after his team’s failure at the 27th SEA Games.

Back home with the failure of his team, Phuc met with VFF officials on Monday, December 23. At the meeting with the VFFSecretary General – Mr. Ngo Le Bang Phuc yesterday, Phuc reported the preparation process as well as the performance of the U23 team in the 27th SEA Games.

"As a coach, I take responsibility for this failure," Phuc said. "I was granted with the entire power to make decisions in terms of professional aspects and personnel. The entire team tried their best but the results were not as expected. Any excuse at this time is meaningless. I would like to step down," Phuc said.

The 49-year-old coach has submitted his resignation to the VFF but the VFF has not approved it yet. Phuc said: "Both Mr. Bang (VFF Secretary General) and the VFF acting chair Le Hung Dung encouraged me to continue with the training job in the national team. They advised me to be patient, not to make a decision at this time."

Phuc signed a two-year contract with the VFF on May 16, 2013. At the BTV Cup, he was temporarily suspended after the draw between U23 and the Bangu Atletico Club of Brazil, which was suspected of match fixing.

Nam Nguyen