Coach Park Hang-seo plans to gather Vietnam U22
team in multiple short-term periods to gradually build the squad and stabilise
the style of play for the upcoming 30th SEA Games campaign.
To prepare for the gold medal hunting journey at the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in the Philippines in November, Vietnam U22s will have a range of short-term gathering. Besides the practice matches with V.League teams, the squad will play an international friendly with China U22s.
According to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF)’s confirmation, Vietnam U22s plan to meet China U22s on September 8. It is a match that fans are waiting for as China U22s are led by the famous Dutch strategist, Guus Hiddink.
Coach Guus Hiddink made a great contribution to the ROK’s football as he brought the team to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals. On the Korean coaching staff that year, there was also Park as No. 1 assistant to the veteran coach.
In Park's eyes, Guus Hiddink is like a great teacher and also a friend. However, in the upcoming friendly match, Park will likely miss an appointment to reunite with his former coach as he has to coach the Vietnam’s senior team to compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
From now to September, Vietnam U22s will have five summon sessions, with the first one from July 8 to 11 at the PVF Youth Football Training Centre in Hung Yen province. On July 5, Park announced a list of 18 players summoned for the first short-term gathering in July 2019.
With the aim of ensuring the professional work for Vietnam U22s while balancing the benefits for clubs with players summoned for the 30th SEA Games campaign, Park has decided to focus on short-term summons, instead of long ones as the Vietnam’s professional leagues is still taking place. Until September, each period only lasts for about four days. Only when the professional leagues finish (scheduled for the latest on October 6), Vietnam U22s will focus on long-term training before heading to the Philippines to attend the regional sports festival.
During the short-term gatherings, Park will give new players the opportunity to help them step by step get used to the team’s strategy and keep pace with the playstyle that Park and his colleagues are building for the national senior team and the U22 squad. Through these gatherings, screening will also be conducted to select the best players for the last gathering and squad announcement in the middle of October (after the end of the domestic professional tournaments).
By October, Vietnam U22s will officially gather to prepare for the 2019 SEA Games. The team will have 45 days of preparation and will play an international friendly match, as well as play two matches in the BTV Cup friendly tourney in Binh Duong province, before heading to the Philippines for the SEA Games from November 25 to December 9.
Powered by ICT GROUP.
