25th SEA Games, Laos

The Lao Sepak Takraw Federation and SEA Games committees have arranged a four-nations Sepak Takraw Test Tournament to give players a trial run and test their preparations for the games.

The federation held a press conference on Monday, urging the public to cheer on the players and give encouragement to all Lao participants in the event, scheduled for October 16 and 17.

Federation President Adsaphangthong Siphandone said the competing countries would be Malaysia , Thailand , Vietnam and Laos .

“Our objective is to test our players as well as the preparations of all the SEA Games committees involved. This will be another opportunity for our players to get more experience and the committees can also test out their arrangements and get some experience before the main event in December,” he said.

The tournament will comprise more than 80 people, including players and delegations from the participating countries. Events will consist of men's and women's doubles and men's and women's singles.

“We will follow the standard rules set by the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation. We'll also broadcast the tournament on Lao National Television and I hope everyone will cheer on our players,” Mr Ardsaphangthong said.

The Lao sepak takraw team recently competed in an international sepak takraw event held earlier this month in Vientiane , attended by teams from China , Japan , Malaysia , Laos , Thailand and Vietnam . Laos won two bronze medals in the men's doubles and singles events.

The Lao team also took part in the 24th King's Cup Sepak Takraw World Championships 2009 in Bangkok , Thailand , in July, in which 21 countries competed.

Laos won one gold medal in the women's singles, two silver medals in the men's and women's doubles, and a bronze medal in the men's doubles. At last year's King's Cup, Laos won three medals - one gold and two bronze.

More than 40 sepak takraw players, 21 men and 21 women, have been training at the Savannakhet Sepak Takraw Centre since April in preparation for the SEA Games.

SEA Games Technical Committee Chairman Phouvanh Vongsouthi said this week's tournament was important because it would allow all committees involved in the games to check the progress of their preparations. If any problems arose they would be able to address them and smooth out any glitches before the games in December.

Journalists at the press conference asked the federation whether the players taking part in this week's tournament would be those selected to compete in the SEA Games.

Federation Secretary Somsavath Phongsa said Laos would certainly be entering its SEA Games team and believed that Vietnam and Malaysia would do the same, but could not speak for Thailand .

“We actually invited eight countries to attend the tournament but we received only three positive responses,” he said.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

U-23 Malaysia arrived Vientiane

Many people wonder why Thailand and Vietnam are sending U-19 players to the pre-SEA Games football tournament that will kick off in Vientiane on Friday, even though the invitation is for U-23 players.

General Secretary of the Lao Football Federation, Mr Soulivanh Xeunvilay, gave Vientiane Times an answer to this question yesterday, saying it was a strategic move by regionally popular teams to keep their main players under wraps.

“The U-23 category doesn't mean only 22-year-old footballers can be on the team, but that players are not any older than 23. This gives teams the leeway to send players in a wide age range and keep their main players out of sight until the actual SEA Games,” he said.

Vietnam and Thailand recently made the decision not to send their under-23 squads to participate in the pre-SEA Games tournament, instead sending their U-19 teams.

The Football Association of Thailand said its under-23 team could not participate in the tournament because many players were committed to playing in the ongoing Thai Premier League. Vietnam explained their team was busy training for the SEA Games in December, and did not want to disrupt its preparations.

The Lao Football Federation, Lao National Television and the Crossfire Company are jointly hosting the Four Nations pre-games football tournament.

The tournament will see Lao, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese footballers play in Vientiane from October 2-6 with the aim of testing the broadcasting system and facilities at the new National Stadium.

The tournament is playing an important role in the 25th SEA Games by testing the football pitch, broadcasting system and other aspects related to the big event.

Tickets for these matches cost 40,000 kip for general admission and 80,000 kip for VIP seating. The money from ticket sales will be used to fund local football.

The tournament is set to take place at the new National Stadium at km16 in Dongxanghin village, Xaythany district.

On October 2, Thailand will take on Malaysia , and Laos will play Vietnam . October 4 will see Malaysia up against Vietnam , and Laos facing Thailand . The last day of the tournament will pit Laos against Malaysia , and Vietnam with Thailand .

Games will kick off at 4:30pm and 7pm. All matches will be broadcast live on Lao National Television.

Crossfire reported that many people wanted to buy tickets for the event but didn't know where they were sold. Tickets will be available at M-Point Mart and at roadside Tigo stands in Vientiane , as well as during the boat racing festival at Vat Chan village in Chanthabouly district.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes