Myanmar will host the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in 2016.
Host of the 27th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), Myanmar won theright to host the Cup along with the Philippines Football Federation.Both countries will host the group stage for the first time. Thepreceding qualifying competition will be held in Cambodia.
The AFF Council has also decided on the host venues and tentativedates for AFF events next year. The under-16 preparatory tournament willbe held in Indonesia in September. The women's championship will beheld in Thailand in August. The futsal championship will be held inMalaysia from September 17-28.
The AFF Council willalso organise an ASEAN all-stars charity football match to help raisefunds for those affected by Typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippinesrecently.
The council revealed that the match willbe held in the city of Bacolod in the Philippines. The match date is yetto be confirmed. It is likely to be played between the all-stars team,who were named during the AFF Awards earlier this year, and thePhilippines national squad.
Coach future
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has rejected a request forresignation by coach Hoang Van Phuc after the failure of the nationalunder-23 football team at the 27 th SEA Games.
Phuctook responsibility of the team's loss in a report sent to the VFF onDecember 23. In the report, he reviewed the team's training,participation in friendly matches and performance at the Games, and thelessons learnt from the failure.
"I do not blameanybody for this loss. It is football. When you win you will haveeverything, but if you lose, people will see problems everywhere," Phucsaid.
The coach said that he took the ‘hot seat'when national football was facing a lot of problems. However, he did notplead these challenges as the reasons for the disappointingperformance.
"I am the head coach. I will shoulderall the blame and comments as the U23s were not successful. I have toldVFF general secretary Ngo Le Bang that I want to quit. It is time toprepare for the coming tournaments. It is time to re-do everything. Ithought that I need to take a decision so that VFF can take initiativesto build their plans," Phuc said.
The coach has also contacted VFF acting chairman Le Hung Dung to convey his opinion.
According to VFF deputy chairman Nguyen Lan Trung, Phuc has signed awork contract with the VFF. He has a right to quit, but if VFF does notagree, he will have to continue his job.
As planned,Phuc will take charge of the national team in a match against Hong Kongin the 2015 Asian Cup qualifying round at the Hanoi's My Dinh Stadiumon March 5.-VNA