Despite losing all their matches in the group stage and not scoring even a single goal, the experience of having played at the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 has not made it a total loss for Laos.
Niwat Klaysang, the team manager for Laos, said that the team has learn a lot from their experience in Phuket this week and something which he hopes will be put to good use when they form a team for the SEA Games next year when they play host.
“It has been quite an experience this week but I believe that the rest of the teams in the group were just too experienced for us,” said Niwat.
“But we have learnt a lot of things in Phuket and the difference between us and them has made us more determined to do better at the SEA Games.”
Laos started the tournament in Group B with a 3-0 loss to Malaysia, a 6-0 defeat at the hands of hosts Thailand in their second match before going down 4-0 to Vietnam in their final group game.
Niwat said that the fact that they did not score a single goal showed that they will have their work cut out especially when at the SEA Games they will have only several young players from the current squad whom they can rely on.
“It is very difficult to mould a strong team in Laos because the country’s population is so small and even in Vientiane, there are only some 200,000 people,” added Niwat.
“But I will try very hard to develop a strong team for the SEA Games from the experience of having played here.”
Laos qualified into the main draw of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 by virtue of being winners of the qualifiers which was held recently in Cambodia.
Lao coach always has some excuses as Amateur, inexperience, strong opponent team, small country. These are unacceptable reasons. These matters will come up again and again generation to generation....
I don't understand why asian people always hate to see Laos peole win. No way, Laos people will not win unless we have foreigner coach comes in our picture.
I don't understand why asian people always hate to see Laos peole win. No way, Laos people will not win unless we have foreigner coach comes in our picture.
Asian people, are you talking about all asian? my opinion is asian don't care much about our football , majority of Laotian who lives in Laos they don't care either except the Football fans.
hiring the good coach doesn't mean that the team will win, the most important is how are the squad? and the preparation of the team...
let's open the football school and train our kids how to play proper football, i see our players don't even know how to pass or kick the ball in proper way, especially when they jump and heading, not standard moves...actually the basic must have learnt when were a kid..
hopefully our young players will play better in the seagame.....su su.
