Football fans' hopes are fading for a first-ever appearance by the U-23 national squad in the South East Asian Games this year after the draw allocating teams to groups placed Laos alongside Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
Russian coach Mr Valeri Vdovin talks to Lao players as they prepare for this year's South East Asian Games. The draw took place in Bangkok , Thailand , on Wednesday evening.
Currently, the U-23 team is in Thailand with their Russian head coach, Mr Valeri Vdovin, on a two-week visit for training and matches.
The Lao Football Federation President, Mr Kasem Inthara, said yesterday “I can say for certain there will be no easy passage to the semi-finals for the Lao team in the men's football competition at this year's SEA Games.”
“Before the draw, we hoped Laos would have a chance to reach the semi-finals. But now we have little hope, as we've been placed in a really strong group.”
“I put our chances of getting to the semis at less than 50 percent, but we will do our best and hope we have a pleasant surprise,” he said.
Only eight countries are taking part in the U-23 event this year, after three of the lowest ranked sides, the Philippines , Timor Leste and Brunei , withdrew from the games. Now only the low-ranking teams of Laos and Cambodia remain in the contest.
Defending champions Thailand have also been placed in a tricky Group A, alongside Indonesia , Cambodia and Myanmar .
Laos is in Group B, facing heavyweights Vietnam , Singapore and Malaysia .
Thailand , the host country, will be anxious to defend the title they won two years ago in the Philippines and have been training hard in preparation to take the crown again.
Cambodia 's prospects look as dubious as those of Laos , as the teams they face in Group A are also tough contenders.
In Group B, Singapore will be out to make sure they are one of the top two teams to make the semi-finals. They stand a good chance of success, as many of their team play in the Singaporean professional league.
Malaysia also seems to be going from strength to strength following their recent capture of the Merdeka Tournament crown on home soil.
But we should not under-estimate the Lao team. As for Vietnam – the runners-up in the Philippines two years ago – they will be anxious to show that they have learned some valuable lessons since then.
Group A: Thailand , Indonesia , Cambodia and Myanmar
