VietNamNet Bridge – The women's national football squad convened on April 8 to prepare for the Asian Cup 2014 qualifiers - a prerequisite for the world cup dream of Vietnam’s soccer.

 

 

The national team.

Compared to the latest gathering, the team does not have big changes. Chinese coach Chen Yun Fat now focuses on the stability of the team, after rejuvenating in the past one year.

The coach has summoned only two new players - Do Thi Nguyen of Ha Nam province and Nguyen Huong Giang from Thai Nguyen province. The remaining players are already familiar, such as goalkeeper Kieu Trinh, Le Thi Thuong, Kim Tien, Nguyen Thi Muon, Kim Hong and Huynh Nhu. Chuong Thi Kieu is absent this time because she is about to have a surgery.

The team will have one and a half month of training before competing at the 2014 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers against Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain in Group C. The matches will take place from May 22 through 26 at Manama Stadium in Bahrain.

"Unfortunately, Chuong Thi Kieu is suffering a severe injury while other players are also difficult to recover promptly, such as Ngoc Huong and Thanh Nhung. However, I have had some alternatives and I believe that these players will play better next time," coach Chen Yun Fat says.

 

 

Coach Chen Yun Fat.

The coach says the Asian Cup 2014 will be the stepping stone to Vietnam to move closer to the dream of playing at the World Cup 2015. "I have never seen such a big opportunity for Vietnam to attend the 2015 World Cup. There are five cards for Asia, while we often make the top 6. The rival of Vietnam may be Thailand or Myanmar. I think if the team fulfils its short-term goals, we can absolutely dream of the World Cup 2015. In the immediate future, we will have to overcome the Asian Cup 2014 qualifiers in Bahrain, then the Asian finals. To accomplish these goals, I look forward to the unity and determination of the whole team and more attention from the Vietnam Football Federation and the media," he adds.

The 23 players of the women’s national football team at the Asian Cup 2014 qualifiers:

Goalkeepers: Kieu Trinh, Tuyet Mai, Vu Thi Nhung

Defenders: Hai Hoa, Nguyen Thi Mai, Bui Thi Nhu, Do Thi Quyen, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, Bui Thi Lan, Nguyen Thi Xuyen, Vu Thi Nhung, Kim Hong, Vu Thi Ngan.

Midfielders: Le Thi Thuong, Kim Tien, Nguyen Thi Muon, Nguyen Thi Lieu, Tuyet Dung

Strikers: Nguyen Thi Nguyet, Minh Nguyet, Nguyen Thi Hoa, Huynh Nhu, Huong Giang.

Fixtures of the Asian Cup 2014 qualifiers:

22/5 (18h) Vietnam - Bahrain
24/5 (20h) Vietnam - Kyrgyzstan
26/5 (18h) Vietnam - Hong Kong

Nam Nguyen