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(KPL) The National University of Laos (NUOL) will receive the host flag for the Asean University Games in 2012 at the same name competition event held in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the end of this year.

The 6th Asean University Sports Council (AUSC) Coordination Meeting was held at in Vientiane on 24 February. Present at the meeting included NUOL Vice President and Chairman of the 16th Asean University Games, Prof. Dr. Somsy Gnophanxay, AUSC Chairman, Prof. Omar Osman, and officials from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The largest Lao university expressed its confidence that its hosting of the ASEAN University Games would be successful.

AUSC officials have already inspected sporting facilities at the National Sport Complex, Olympasia and SEA Games Village, which will be used to host the games.

?The National University of Laos will send athletes to compete in nine sport events at the 15th Asean University Games. These include basketball, volleyball, football, petanque, sepak takraw, table tennis, taekwondo, karatedo and pencak silat,? said Dr. Somsy.

This year?s games in Thailand has 18 sport events including track-and-field, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball and volleyball, cricket, football, futsal, golf, karatedo, taekwondo, petanque, rugby, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, tennis, ten pin bowling and pencak silat events. Dr. Somsy said that NOUL would propose the government to fund the preparation of Lao athletes for the event and it would organise sporting events to select best athletes for the games in Chiang Mai.

The University of Health Science and the Universities of Savannakhet, Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces as well as line ministries and the National Sports Committee have been committed to cooperating with the NOUL on hosting the 16th ASEAN University Games.

(KPL) The schedule of the Lao Football League, also known as Lao League, is finalised and the Army is set to play their first leg against City on Feb 27. This year Lao League sees the participation of only eight teams because the Moon the Night and the Customs Department announced their withdrawal from the 2010 competition list last week. All matches will be played at the old Chao Anouvong Stadium at 15:00 hours. Following are the Lao League 2010 match schedules:

27/02/2010: Army Vs City, Ministry of Public Works and Transport vs Ministry of Public Security

28/02/2010: Bank of Laos vs Ezra, Lao American College vs Vientiane Capital

06/03/2010: Ministry of Public Works and Transport vs Vientiane Capital, Bank of Laos Vs Lao American College

07/03/2010: City vs Ezra, Army vs Ministry of Public Security

13/03/2010: Ministry of Public Security vs Vientiane Capital, Army vs Ezra

14/03/2010: City vs Lao American College, Ministry of Public Works and Transport vs Bank of Laos

20/03/2010: Army vs Vientiane Capital, Ezra vs Lao American College

21/03/2010: Ministry of Public Security vs Bank of Laos, City vs Ministry of Public Security

27/03/2010: Ezra vs Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Ministry of Public Security vs City

28/03/2010: Army vs Lao American College, Vientiane Capital vs Bank of Laos

03/04/2010: Ezra vs Ministry of Public Security, Lao American College vs Ministry of Public Works and Transport

04/04/2010: Vientiane Capital vs City, Army vs Bank of Laos

10/04/2010: BANK OF LAOS vs City, Army vs Ministry of Public Works and Transport

11/04/2010: Lao American College vs Ministry of Public Security, Vientiane Capital vs Ezra

Kaz Phonesak Patafta, (born 25 October 1988 in Canberra) is an Australian football (soccer) attacking midfielder who currently plays for the Newcastle Jets. He attended Radford College in Canberra and received a football scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 2004. He is of Croatian and Laotian descent.



Lao National TV covered the story of Kaz


Until that date, he had been ignored by Australia's A-League squads but soon, two European giants, PSV Eindhoven (whose interest was due to the recommendation of then Australian national team manager, Guus Hiddink) and SL Benfica, expressed interest in signing him [1]. The Portuguese side won the race for the Australian youngster but his move overseas was initially blocked by Football Federation Australia because he was under the age of 18. He eventually joined Benfica's B-Squad in January 2006. His first game for the Benfica first team was against CF Estrela da Amadora in a pre-season game on 15 August 2006.

Kaz Interview


Patafta joined Australian A-League champions Melbourne Victory on loan for the 2007/08 season. He played his first game for Melbourne Victory in a pre-season match against Sydney FC, to which they lost 1-0. He has mostly made appearances off the bench in the 2007/08 A-League season, amid suggestions he is not physical enough, or even big enough for the league. His first goal in the A-League, a left foot shot from a tight angle, came in the round 20 encounter against Wellington Phoenix.

Watch his interview in World sport


In May 2008, Patafta secured a release from the remainder of his contract with Benfica with the assistance of the Australian Professional Footballers' Association. On 2 June 2008, Patafta signed a 1 year deal with the Newcastle Jets.[

International career
Patafta gained attention when he captained the Australian Under-17 football team, the "Joeys", during the 2005 World Championships in Peru.[4]

"In a team where most of the players show good skills with the ball, Kaz Patafta has ensured his spot and has no replacement as a midfielder. A good reader of the game and the centre of command, this boy naturally became the captain of the Aussies".

Patafta was included as part of Australia's "train-on" squad before the 2006 FIFA World Cup, along with fellow promising young Australian players Kristian Sarkies and Neil Kilkenny. Unlike these players, he was not given a senior cap in the team's three pre-World Cup friendly matches.

Click photos to view in large size.

The spirits of SEA Games 2009 in Vientiane, Laos

The collective voice of more than 20,000 spectators on Saturday at the National Stadium shouting “Lao sou sou!” (go, Laos, go!) carried Lao footballers to a well deserved draw in their match against Myanmar .

Supporters formed a sea of red, white and blue as they energetically waved Lao flags, beat on drums and hooted on horns.

The stadium was packed with groups of families and friends all cheering for their team as Lao footballers turned out for their tournament debut against former SEA Games silver medallists Myanmar .

Before the match began, the tide of goodwill and the surge of enthusiasm quickened the pulse of the national team as they stood for the national anthem and gazed around at the packed stands singing in unison.

After the match Lao Men's Football Team Manager Viphet Sihachackr made his delight clear and offered his thanks to Lao supporters for cheering the team on and boosting the spirits of his men at this vital game.

“The cheering spurred on our players to do their best against a tough opponent. In the end we only managed a 1-1 draw but we have to remember that Myanmar were the runners-up at the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007,” he said.

The team was also pleased at the evident enjoyment of the spectators.

After the match both coaches told press they would be playing five matches in the tournament but of course only one team from the group would secure a berth in the final.

Lao coach Alfred Riedl said he learnt a lot from the match and would use this as homework for the Lao squad. In general he was happy with the way the team played and glad that fans enjoyed the game so much.

“I will change from offensive to defensive because today's match showed up some mistakes in this area. I believe we can put on an even better display against Indonesia next week,” he said.

Myanmar coach Drago Mamic complained that the referee had not strictly followed competition rules and he was not happy with several of the decisions made during the game. But he congratulated the Lao footballers on their good play.

From the outset of the match Laos tried desperately to score and in the 5th minute got a free kick from the penalty area. But Kaysone Soukhavong's shot sailed over the crossbar. Laos had another opportunity in the 15th minute when Kaysone was faulted by a Myanmar defender and Lamnao Singto shot a free kick which curved towards the net but was saved by the Myanmar goalkeeper.

As hungry as Laos was to score, they couldn't find the back of the net. Meanwhile, Myanmar was counter-attacking and tried equally hard to get through the Lao defence without success.

In the 32nd minute Myanmar striker Tun Tun Win took control of the ball and wove his way through the Lao defenders. He powered the ball towards the goal but it soared over the crossbar.

In the 40th minute Myanmar defender Khin Maung Lwin fouled Lamnao. Kaysone took the free kick for Laos but the Myanmar goalkeeper deftly pushed the ball away from the net. The away team pummelled the goal mouth until Kyaw Thiha put his team on the scoreboard at 1-0.

In the second half, Laos tried their best to score but the Myanmar players put up a tough defence and the home side was unable to get the ball through.

Finally in the 69th minute Laos saw their name in lights when Kaysone passed the ball to Khampheng Sayavutthi and equalised. The 1-1 score remained the same until the final whistle.

In 2005 Laos beat Myanmar 3-2 at the 23rd SEA Games in the Philippines , but Myanmar improved their play and took the silver medal at the next SEA Games.

Also on Saturday, Singapore 's Muhammad Safuwan Bin scored first for Singapore in the 6th minute of their match with Indonesia , followed by Mohammad Shaiful Bin Esah Nain who made it 2-0 in the 23rd. But Stevie Bonsapia and Rendy pulled two back for Indonesia , levelling the score at 2-2.

Today, Laos will take on Indonesia and Singapore will face Myanmar in matches at the Chao Anouvong Stadium starting at 3pm.

December 6:

Vietnam vs. Malaysia (3-1)

Cambodia vs. Timor Leste (4-1)




By Souknilundon Southivongnorath

Both men's and women's football teams will play their first matches against Myanmar , which has proved in past SEA Games competitions to be a formidable opponent.

The matches will take place on December 3 and 5 at the National University of Laos stadium and the National Stadium.

Lao Men's Football Team Manager Viphet Sihachakr said yesterday he thought his team would play five matches in the tournament because the players were well prepared both in terms of training and fitness.

“ Myanmar is a strong SEA Games team. They were runners-up at the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007 but that's in the past. Today I believe our athletes can do better than before due to our experience from the many test matches we played,” he said.

Lao footballers lost many tournaments in the run-up to the 25th SEA Games. But coaches and team assistants have worked hard to improve the players' skills and the team manager has confirmed the team's performance is already 30 percent better since their last match.

“One thing we have to remember is that playing at home we have an advantage because our supporters will be cheering us on, just as they did at the 4-Nations Football Tournament. I was delighted to see so many Lao fans in the stadium all shouting for us. This is just great for our players,” Mr Viphet said.

He asked football fans to continue to cheer on the players, saying their support would make them stronger and better able to fight for their country.

Lao hopes are also riding with the women's football team.

Lao Women's Football Team Manager Ms Valy Vessaphong said she had asked Myanmar to send a team for a friendly game in Laos before the SEA Games but they declined, saying they were too busy.

“This will be a big match because we've never met them since we lost to them 0-6 at the 24th SEA Games. But now things are different. Our players have improved and are ready for their first match,” Ms Valy said.

She said Myanmar might not be aware of how much the Lao team had improved and Laos also didn't know, but the match would be the true testing ground.

After today's match against Myanmar , the women's team will play Thailand on December 8, Malaysia on December 11 and Vietnam on December 13. December 16 will be the final day of the tournament.

Matches will take place at the National University of Laos and the Chao Anouvong Stadium.

The men's football team begins its campaign tomorrow against Myanmar and will face Indonesia on December 7 and Singapore on December 10 at the National Stadium and Chao Anouvong Stadium.



By Souknilundon Southivongnorath

Vientianetimes

A last-minute penalty denied defending champions Thailand the full points when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Vietnam in the second match of Group A of the men’s football event at the Main Stadium of the National Sports Complex. In front of a sell-out crowd dominated by a sea of boisterous Vietnames fans in red, both Thailand and Vietnam displayed fast, attacking football from the very first whistle. At times, their enthusiasm borders on the physical which referee Pratap Singh from India did not hesitate to stem out with several yellow cards in the first half alone.

It was Thailand who got the first look at goal in the fourth minute when Arthit Sunthorphit blasted in from the right only to miss the far post. Six minutes later, a header from lanky captain Kiatprawut Sawaeo went inches over the cross bar.

It was to be the two central defenders for Thailand - Kiatprawut and Suttinun Chekhov - who made the difference as they easily cut off the darting runs from Vietnam striker Hoang Dinh Tung. The score at the break was 0-0.

It was Vietnam who started off stronger into the second half with the hard working captain Pham Thanh Luong pulling the action from the centre of the park. In the 64th minute, Thanh Luong’s incisive pass was wasted by Dinh Tung, who ballooned his effort with only Thai keeper Kawin Thamsatchanan to beat. Thailand then replied with an effort from Khapfa Boonmatoon in the 61st minute but his shot from the edge of the Vietnam box was blocked by a recovering defender.

And while Vietnam’s attempt from a free kick came off the wall, it was Thailand who silenced the crowd in the 72nd minute when striker Kirati Keawsombut pounced on a mistake from Vietnam keeper Bui Tan Truong to take the lead.

But as Thailand wound down for what they thought would be their first three points of the competition, Vietnam’s win of a penalty right at the end of the game turned the game around.

Thai defender Sutjarit Jantakol was faulted for bringing down Dinh Tung inside the box and the latter did not hesitate from the spot as he sent Kawin the wrong way for Vietnam’s first point in the group.

The hugely anticipated football match between Thailand and Vietnam will feature on the first day of the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane tomorrow. Kick-starting the event will be a match between Malaysia and Timor Leste, before the competition’s heavyweights take to the field. Vietnamese footballers were the first arrivals of the thousands athletes participating in the games, touching down before the football teams from Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Vietnamese Coach Henrique Calisto said Saturday’s match with Thailand will be the biggest for his team, given the strength of their opponents.

“Just win, just lose or just draw, we still don’t know, but we will do our best in the match,” said the Portuguese coach. “The last time we met them recently ended in a draw, so we don’t know what will happen on Wednesday.” While the Vietnamese team is hopeful of matching up to Thailand, the Thai team believe they can show their supremacy in the first match. Thai Coach Stephen Darby said on Sunday his team was preparing perfectly and was confident of winning the match.

“We believe our players can get a result on Wednesday, and we’d like to be playing again on the final day of the SEA Games.”

The men’s football teams are divided into two groups. Group A comprises Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Timor Leste and Cambodia, while Group B consists of Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia.

Hosts Laos will be counting on the 12th man or rather home support to carry the team through when they open their campaign in Group B of the SEA Games this Sunday against Myanmar. Team manager Viphet Sihachak said that base on the attendance during the pre-SEA Games in early October, he is confident that Laos can pick up their first three points of the competition.

“We are very sure that the fans will come and support the team just like they did during the pre-SEA Games. And furthermore, football is the main event of the SEA Games and everyone want to do well,” said Viphet after the team managers’ meeting this morning.

“We showed during the pre-SEA Games that we can build a competent team and while we may be up against the silver medallist, I still believe that we can win the full points.

“I know that the other countries have offered high rewards in winning the gold medal, we will do the same at the appropriate time.”

To show their determination to put their best at the biennial championship, the Laos Under-23 side has been training for the more than a year under the sponsorship of Vietnamese club Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL).

And while their results at the BIDC Cup in Phnom Penh where they finished fourth behind Cambodia, HAGL and Vissai Ninh Binh was unflattering, Viphet said that things must be put in perspective.

“At the pre-SEA Games, it was a full competitive match while the BIDC Cup is more of a series of friendlies,” added Viphet.

“Furthermore, the team will welcome the return of midfielder Kampheng (Sayyavutthi), who has been out with a knee injury for quite some time.

“So we are confident of the team.”

The schedule of Women football match of the 25th SEA Games in Laos is as follow:

2/12/2009 Arrival of all football teams
3/12/2009 Meeting of all team managers
4/12/2009 Malaysia vs Thailand (13:30) @ National University of Laos
Laos vs Myanmar (14:45) @ National University of Laos
6/12/2009 Thailand vs Myanmar (13:30) National University of Laos
Malaysia vs Vietnam (14:45) National University of Laos
8/12/2009 Myanmar vs Vietnam (13:30) National University of Laos
Laos vs Thailand (14:45) National University of Laos
11/12/2009 Laos vs Malaysia (13:30) National University of Laos
Thailand vs Vietnam (14:45) National University of Laos
13/12/2009 Laos vs Vietnam (15:40) Chaoanu stadium
Malaysia vs Myanmar (18:00) Chaoanu Stadium
16/12/2009 Final (16:00) Chaoanou stadium

Lao U-23 Football Team Manager Viphet Sihachackr said yesterday that the team's experience in previous matches will mean they perform at their best in December.

“The test matches might have made people unhappy with our performance, because they think our team is hopeless and has lost to many other teams on previous occasions, but in fact the fans don't understand that we just used those games as practice for the real event in December,” he said.

Mr Viphet said his team didn't need to win those matches, rather they needed to get much more experience, so that after each match coach and team assistant could analyse the game and suggest how the footballers could improve their performance.

Since the tournament in Cambodia in early November, many Lao football fans have complained about the team not playing well enough.

Their complaints were heightened at the most recent match at Chao Anouvong on Tuesday when the Lao team lost 3-1 to Hoang Anh Gia Lia of Vietnam .

“Hoang Anh Gia Lia is an official sponsor of the 25th SEA Games, so they just wanted to send their football team to practice with our team.

“We learnt many things from them because they had many good players,” Mr Viphet said.

Mr Viphet said the team has been playing very well recently and is ready for their first SEA Games match on December 5 against Myanmar , the runner up at the 24th SEA Games in Thailand .

On December 7 the Lao team will face Indonesia and on December 10 they will take on Singapore in the quarterfinal of the SEA Games.

Mr Viphet said Myanmar is a strong contender but the Lao footballers would try their best to win.

“We will be the winner of the match.

“We know Myanmar is strong but because we are the host country we want to stay in the competition as long as possible,” he said.

Mr Viphet said he trusted the ability of his players after they had gained experience locally and abroad.

“We have spoken with other coaches about our athletes, who said they are improving even though they haven't had much time to practice. The Austrian coach said if the Lao team had more time, they would be really good,” he said.

The men's football teams will be divided into two groups. Laos will be in Group B along with Myanmar , Singapore and Indonesia , while in Group A Thailand will play against Vietnam , Malaysia , Timor Leste and Cambodia .

The women's teams will play in only one group, which comprises Malaysia , Thailand , Myanmar , Vietnam and Laos .

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

Laos U23 team had their warm up match with HAGL club from Vietnam in preparation for the 25th SEA Games in Chao Anou football stadium, Vientiane.

In the first match which kicked off on Sunday 22nd November, Laos team trounced Vietnam 4:0. However, the match on 24th November, Vietnam hit back and won Laos with the score 3:1.

This will be the final warm up match for Laos U23 team.

In 25th SEA Games, Laos will first meet Myanmar on December 5th.

Laos captain Kitsada was named the Most Valuable Player in the BIDC Cup 2009 in Phnom Phen, Cambodia. The final results of the BIDC Cup is as follow:

The winner: Cambodia U-23
Second: Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Vietnam
Third: Vissai Ninh Binh
Fouth: Laos U-23

Cambodia’s Samrith Seiha was voted the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper, and Evaldo Goncaves of HAGL collected the Top Scorer award.

Photo: roubroum.blogspot.com

Bangladesh drew 3-3 with Laos to finish fourth. Laos are bottom with one point, two behind fifth-placed Macau.

Korea Republic beat Thailand 2-1 on Wednesday as both teams qualified from Group E for the AFC U-19 Championship 2010 finals.

Vietnam put themselves in a strong position to claim the best third-placed berth in the finals from East Asia by beating Macau 3-0.

Korea Republic, Thailand and Vietnam all finished on 12 points with the Koreans topping the group on goal difference.

Thailand and Vietnam had exactly the same goals for and against of 9-2. However, the Thais claimed second place because of their 1-0 victory the Vietnamese on Sunday.

Korea Republic’s victory at the Royal Thai Army Stadium came courtesy of an 88th-minute Seo Hong-min goal. Earlier, the Thais went into half-time with a 1-0 lead after Chakrit Ravanprakon scored in the 21st minute.

Source: AFC

You can now watch the match between Laos and Cambodia in the BIDC CUP 2009 Play in PhnomPenh, Kingdom of Cambodia. The host Cambodia wear in the blue Uniform, while Laos is in the red. Lamnao Singto from Laos got a red card, and in the end, Cambodia won Laos with the score 2:1. Check out the video clips from youtube.

Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IMtfHmTFlY

Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJeEyzzW5bs

Part III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NMVp63MaoU

Part IV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AauWYiAblkU

Part V
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNtMgOkEmhs

Part VI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COTdygz0f3o

Final
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyyxehdM_5E

The Cambodian U-23s beat their Laos counterparts 2-1 in their BIDC Cup match in Phnom Penh and go through to the two-team final to be played on Saturday with their second win of the competition. Goals from Keo Sokngorn and Nov Soseila sealed the result. It was a very tough game as Laos played very well in the 2nd half after Lamnao Singto got a red card, and the team being reduced to 10 men.

In another match, HAGL won Vissai Ninh Binh 3:0.

Laos will meet HAGL on 11 November 20093.

Table Standing is as follow:
1. Cambodia : 6 points (+2)
2. Hoang Anh Gia Lai : 3 points (+2)
3. Laos : 1 point (-1)
4. Vissai Ninh Binh : 1 point (-3)


Source: http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/

(KPL) The football team of the armed force of Champassak province of Laos has won the 2009 Number One Cup after defeating Vietnam ?s Binh Phuoc military team 2-1 on Nov. 5.

According to VNA, the Number One Cup is an international football tournament, for the armed forces in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. This year's event was held on Oct. 27-Nov. 5 with the participation of seven teams from Laos's Champassak and Savannakhet provinces, Cambodia's Kompong Thom and Stungtreng province, and Vietnam's Binh Phuoc province.The police team from Binh Phuoc province and Laos's Savannakhet team shared the third prize.

Player Phanthavong of Champassak who scored 10 goals during the tournament was presented the Best Scorer title and Hoang Dinh Ngoc of Binh Phuoc military team got the ?Best Goal Keeper.

On this occasion, the tournament's organising board presented six tonnes of rice to flood victims in Kompong Thom and Stungtreng provinces.

SEA Games: A Preview - Both Groups Present Challenges
There is no easy ride for anyone in the nine-nation tournament...

Whichever way it went, there are no longer easy grouping following the official draw announcement of the men’s football of the 25th SEA Games in Laos this morning.

Eight-times champions Thailand are in Group A alongside Vietnam, Malaysia, Timor Leste and Cambodia.In Group B are hosts Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia.

Brunei have been banned by FIFA while the Philippines are not putting up either men‘s or women‘s team at this year‘s SEA Games.

Indonesian team manager Demis Djamaoeddin said that there are no longer easy draw at the SEA Games with all the teams taking part well prepared.

“Unlike in the past, there are no teams which you can consider as minnows,” said Demis from Palembang.

“All the teams taking part take the championship seriously and they prepare their teams for months. We are no different.

“For us, it makes no different being in either group. They are all tough. We can only prepare our team as well as possible. The rest will be decided on the day.”

Singapore have been building up steadily towards the SEA Games where their recent 6-0 win over their counterparts from Cambodia proved that their formula in having their team - the Young Lions - have regular competition in the S-League is paying off.

They are currently playing in the VFF-Smartdoor Championship in Hanoi where they had conceded a 1-0 loss to the Vietnam U23 side in their opening match.The Young Lions then held the Thai U23 side to a 1-1 draw in their second match of the meet and will wrap up the competition by taking on China U23.

The Indonesians will be relying on the Uruguayan touch to carry the team through with the enlistment of Alberto Dica while for Laos, their win of the pre-SEA Games meet despite playing against U19 sides, will be an added incentive.

Add that to the expected home crowd, then Laos could just spring a surprise - or two.

Myanmar, through their recent formation of the Myanmar national league, have allowed their U23 players more playing time and with the expected four-nation tournament later this month, they will not be short of match experience.

At the very least, Myanmar will be looking at defending the silver they win two years ago in Thailand.

With the Thais again the firm favourites to defend their crown, Vietnam will be hoping that their win of the AFF Suzuki Cup last year will give them the confidence for the task ahead.

And certainly, the Vietnam U23 side seems to be oozing with confidence where this week, they picked up the VFF-Smartdoor Cup in Hanoi after beating Singapore U23 (1-0) and then China U23 (3-1).

They will play their final round robin match against Thailand U23 with the results being inconsequential to the end result.Malaysia as always remain the dark horse with head coach K. Rajagobal saying that they will be taking it one game at a time.

“It is a tough draw, but then there’s no way we can avoid it,” added Rajagobal.

“We will look at who we will play against first and take it from there.”

Cambodia will be playing in a four-team meet in Phnom Penh this week while for Timor Leste, they are certainly capable of delivering the goods.

Timor recently qualified for the final round of the AFC U16 championships after holding China to a draw and then beating Singapore in their qualifying matches.

At the AFF Under-19 championship in Ho Chi Minh City, they played well as a unit and was just unfortunate not to make the semi-finals.

“We are improving as a whole but it is still a step by step process,” said Timor Leste president Francisco Kalbuadi.

Source: http://goal.com/

The Lao men's football U-23 squad will play the home team in Phnom Penh , Cambodia , today at this year's Cambodian International Football Tournament BIDC Cup, which runs from November 8-14.

The opponents will be the same team Lao players will compete against at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next month.

The Lao team's assistant manager Prasatxay Philaphandeth said yesterday the team would use the match to study Cambodia 's style closely. “We just want to compare our playing style with their style, as this will be very valuable for our team.”

He added that on Sunday, Cambodia won over Hoang Anh Gia Lai of Vietnam 3-2, after the Vietnamese team led 2-0 in the first half.

“We haven't seen them play for a long time so the Sunday match could prove that they got better after they got an experienced football coach,” Mr Prasatxay explained.

He said the Cambodian team at tonight's match would use more long balls, which is different to the Lao team's style of play which favours short balls, so the match would determine which is the better method.

The first day of the tournament saw Laos draw 1-1 with Vissai Ninh Binh of Vietnam and Cambodia come out on top over Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

Mr Prasatxay said the Lao team was very good, but could only draw with the Vietnamese team.

He said the Vietnamese team had many international players. They committed so many fouls in the penalty area they got four yellow cards, but Laos didn't get any.

“There are no certainties in this game, but we have to make sure we win so we can be a good host of the SEA Games,” Mr Prasaxay said.

On November 10, Vissai Ninh Binh will play Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Cambodia will play Laos , while on November 12 Laos will play Hoang Anh Gia and Cambodia will play Vissai Ninh Binh.

The finals will take place on November 14.

The Cambodian website http://roubroum.blogspot.com/ reported that the tournament will be broadcast live on Cambodian TV5 starting at 3.30 pm.

The tournament champion will win US$20,000, the runner-up US$10,000 and third place will take US$5,000.

The footballer voted best player will get US$1,000, and the top scorer and best goalkeeper will each get US$1,000.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes
Photo: http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk

Photo: Lao U-23

The nine men’s football teams competing in the 25th Southeast Asian Games next month in Laos were divided into two groups via a drawing ceremony in Vientiane Nov. 9.

Group A has defending champions Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, East Timor and Cambodia. Hosts Laos are in Group B together with runners-up Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia.

After the group stage, the top two teams of each group will go through to the semifinals.

Both the men’s football and the women’s football will take place in the Lao capital of Vientiane.

The men’s football will kick off on December 3 and the final is set for Dec. 17. The two venues are the 20,000-seat National Sports Complex stadium and the Chao Anouvong Stadium, also with the same seating capacity.

The men’s football is limited to U-23 teams in stead of the national squads.

The women’s football will start on Dec. 4 and finish on Dec. 14. The two venues are Chao Anouvong and the National University Stadium, which has only 6,000 seats. The five nation squads of Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam will play in a round-robin format. Then the top two teams will play the final.

Laos will be hosting the SEA Games next month for the first time. The opening ceremony is set for Dec. 9 and the closing ceremony scheduled on Dec. 18.

On Nov. 9, the SEA Games organizing committee also held draw for badminton, water polo, sepak takraw, table tennis, volleyball and beach volleyball