VietNamNet Bridge – Le Cong Vinh has asked the national squad’s chief coach Henrique Calisto’s permission to not join the team at the upcoming ASEAN Football Cup (AFF) 2010 because of injuries.

The football star’s right knee ligament was broken in April. He went to Portugal for operations and resumed practice in early October.

Under the supervision of a Portuguese doctor, Cong Vinh has practiced exercises that help quicken his recovery. However, Calisto added his name to the list of players for AFF Cup in December 2010.

Gathering with the national team, Cong Vinh only did gentle exercises. Calisto banned others from bumping against him in any circumstance.

Calisto praised Vinh’s efforts but the striker has withdrawn from the team because he can’t dully recover from his injury before AFF Cup.

Another striker – Viet Thang – can’t participate in the event due to an injury he got in a recent friendly match against Singapore. Thang and Vinh are the top strikers at the national squad.

The team currently has 19 members, with two strikers only – Quang Hai and Sy Manh.

Calisto returned to Hanoi from Ghuangzhou, China on November 17. He has not made decision over Vinh’s proposal but he said to recruit seven players of the U23 team for the national squad. They consist of goalkeeper Tan Truong, fullbacks Minh Duc and Dinh Dong, halfbacks Thanh Trung, Thanh Hung, Ngoc Dieu and striker Anh Duc.

Anh Duc said he wouldn’t join the national team. Calisto has asked the striker to explain why.

The coach criticized Chu Ngoc Anh and Van Hieu, who took two red cards in the game against North Korea at the ongoing Asian Games in Ghuangzhou.

He emphasized that the two young players must change their playing style if they want to be members of the national squad in the future.

PV