Austrian coach to train Lao footballers
An experienced football coach from Austria , Mr Alfred Riedl, will arrive in Vientiane on July 12 to train Lao national footballers ahead of the SEA Games this December.
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Alfred Riedl.
--Photo www.vietnamalbum.com |
The 60-year-old coach, who was sacked by V-League club Hai Phong Cement in March after just three games, signed a seven-month contract with the Lao Football Federation in Ho Chi Minh City on June 27, according to the vientnamenews website.
The website reported the coach's salary will be paid by the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, owner of the eponymous Vietnamese League team.
Under Riedl's stewardship, Vietnam won a silver medal at the Asean Football Championships, known as the Tiger Cup in 1998 and 1999.
The team also won silver medals at the 2003 and 2005 SEA Games.
Mr Riedl resigned from his position after the team performed poorly at the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007.
Vietnam 's greatest achievement under Riedl's reign was to reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals in July 2007, which the country co-hosted along with Thailand , Indonesia and Malaysia .
Last year, the Hoang Anh Gia Lai group agreed to finance the training of the Lao U-23 football squad for the 25th SEA Games, following a visit by Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Somsavat Langsavad, to the central highlands province of Gia Lai .
The group and the Lao Ministry of Finance have signed a memorandum of understanding on the construction of apartments for athletes competing in the SEA Games.
Under the agreement, Hoang Anh Gia Lai will pay US$14 million to build a 1,000 room facility.
About 30 Lao footballers trained in Vietnam for three months earlier this year thanks to support from the group.
One member of the Lao national football team, Mr Kanlanga Sisomvang, said the training camp was an invaluable experience and the squad had improved immensely.
The team returned home last month to due to the wet season in Vietnam disrupting their training camp.
Before returning home the team participated in friendly matches with Vietnamese teams, with most results going the way of the visitors.
The team competed in two matches last week in Bangkok , Thailand , of which they won one and lost one.
A member of the national coaching staff said the squad has gained much experience from their recent encounters, but there were still many skill areas to be addressed.
The team will compete in a tournament in Champassak province from July 17.
The field includes two teams from Thailand and one from Vietnam .
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
July 07, 2009
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