25th SEA Games, Laos

During a four-nation friendly football tournament held in Vientiane from September 9-14, the Lao women's team demolished Malaysia in the final 6-0 at the Chao Anouvong Stadium on Monday.

Top Lao striker Ms Souphavanh Phayvanh hopes to lead the women's football team to victory in the 25th SEA Games in December.

She said the team has shown vast improvement since beginning training with a coach from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea .

At last year's SEA Games in Thailand , the team came in fourth place. The Thai female football team took first place, Vietnam 's team placed second and Myanmar came in third.

Ms Souphavanh said she is honoured to represent Lao women in the competition on home soil and will work to the best of her ability.

The accomplished forward, aged only 17, lives in Don village, Pakngum district, Vientiane , and recently graduated from Sathit Secondary School at the National University of Laos.

She said it will be difficult for the Lao team to best the Thai and Vietnamese teams, which are sure to be strong opponents at this year's games.

She believes she will receive strength from fans attending the games to support their team.

At the moment, the player is still experiencing pain in her left leg due to an injury picked up during training and the recent friendly football competition, which included the Malaysian team, two clubs from Thailand and the Lao team.

She said she gained important experience from the exhibition matches and will now concentrate on training for the SEA Games.

Unfortunately, Ms Souphavanh is still suffering from injuries acquired in last year's games, and has been receiving treatment through the Lao Football Federation. Luckily, she will have an opportunity to receive further treatment in Thailand before the upcoming events.

She hopes to be a part of the national team for a long time after SEA Games are over.

Even though she will take part in the football event, she will also show her support for the sepak trakaw team because she also enjoys the sport.

She will study Physical Education at the National University of Laos and wants to continue her involvement in sports after graduation, perhaps working with the Lao National Sports Committee.

Next year she starts her university course, and will look back on her years of success, which began on a football field at primary school in her home village.


By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

The final selection of 100 Ms SEA Games representatives will take
place on Friday at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane.

More than 200 girls have applied to the contest, but only 100 will be
chosen for the role.

Eleven country placard bearers will be selected from the 100
representatives to take part in the stadium parade that precedes the
games, which will be held next December in Vientiane.

The 100 selected participants will introduce themselves to the public
for the first time at Patuxay Monument at the start of the countdown
to the SEA Games, which will begin on New Year's Eve.

Organising sub-committee member, Mr Sopha Inthavong, said nationwide
applications opened at the end of July, and the three-part selection
process would culminate in the announcement this Friday.

Applicants were required to be Lao citizens, aged between 18 and 25,
and have a pleasant personality and good manners.

Participants also had to be single and be communicative, intelligent,
knowledgeable, talented and able to speak English.

Before the candidates were presented yesterday to the organising
committee at the National Culture Hall, they received training in
social etiquette and ceremonial presentation. Mr Sopha, who is also
one of the trainers, said training would continue after the selection
process.

“After their selection, the 100 Ms SEA Games representatives will
return to the National Culture Hall stage, where they will practise
how to nop (perform the traditional greeting), stand and act in a
socially appropriate manner,” Mr Sopha said.

He said those who were selected would also learn how to speak English
and take part in various activities, such as visiting important sites
in Vientiane like That Luang and the Hor Phra Keo museum.

They will be trained by staff who will give them suggestions on the
wearing of traditional clothes and tennis dress, before their public
presentation on December 31.

They will also learn how to dance to a selection of songs and rhythm,
and be guided in their choice of clothes.

An 18-year-old participant in the contest, Ms Soudaphone Tilakhoun,
who attends Pakpasak Technical School , said she was persuaded by her
friend to apply. She is hopeful of being selected in the group of 100
on Friday.

“ Laos will host the SEA Games for the first time, and I wanted to
play a part in serving the nation,” she said. “As a Lao girl I want to
give other people an insight into Lao culture, both in Laos and
overseas.”

Another participant, Ms Bouasavanh Phanthamit, 18, from Luang Prabang,
who studies at Rattana Business Administration College , said she too
wanted to serve her country while building her confidence.

“Actually I'm shy and never thought I could take part in the selection
process, but I've discovered I'm confident enough to go through with
it,” she said.

By Vientiane Times