Illustrative image (Source: laodong.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Thedrawing of lots for men’s football in the 30th Southeast Asian Games(SEA Games 30) will take place on October 3, the organisers have said.
A total of 11 teams, divided into two groups, will compete in the men’sfootball at SEA Games 30.
The qualifying round will begin on November 25. Meanwhile, the semifinals arescheduled to take place on December 7 with the gold and bronze medalmatches slated for December 10.
Vietnam’s U22 team are placed in the third seed group, together with Myanmar. Meanwhile,Thailand and the host Philippines are in the first seed group. Malaysia andIndonesia join the second seed group.
Vietnamese players are set to come up against a number of disadvantages afterit was revealed they will play their fixtures on artificial turf pitches duringthe upcoming SEA Games 30.
This will be the first time in the 60-yearhistory of the event that the football tournament won't be played on grass.
The three stadiums selected tohold the men’s football matches, including the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex,the University of Makati Stadium and the Binan Football Stadium, alluse artificial turf.
Except for the Philippines andCambodia, all other teams are currently practicing and competing on grass. Theywill have four months to switch to an artificial surface as thefootball kicks off.
Vietnam’s head coach ParkHang-seo immediately asked the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to switchtheir plans to allow more time training on artificial turf.
VFF General Secretary Le Hoai Anh said boththe national football governing body and the head coach were surprised butwould soon adjust the training schedule.
He added that players wouldarrive in the Philippines days earlier than originally planned to train onturf.
The hosts also rejected aproposal to allow teams having 23 players to compete at the SEA Games.
The organisers confirmed that each squad wouldhave total 20 players in which two can be over-22.-VNA
VNA
