ID :
37758
Mon, 12/29/2008 - 09:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37758
The shortlink copeid
VN ready to step in as AFF Cup host
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam could take over as Group B host for the ASEAN
Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup if current events force a change of venue.
The current political crisis in Thailand , which saw Thai protesters besiege
Suvarnabhumi Airport on Nov 26 night, forced thinking about changes, to
tournament logistics.
Fifteen flight between Hanoi and Bangkok were cancelled on Nov 26 as a
result of the protests.
Malaysia are also being considered as an alternative host if Thailand is
unable to hold the matches from December 5-12.
Chairman of the Vietnam Football Federation, Nguyen Trong Hy, who is in Shanghai
for an Asian Football Confederation meeting, said Vietnam are ready to host the
game if AFF appoints them to do so.
Vietnam hosted the championship in 1998 and one of the groups in 2004.
Last year, Vietnam successfully organised the final round of the Asian Cup
along with Thailand , Malaysia and Indonesia .
However, the Football Association of Thailand confirmed with the Bangkok Post on
Nov.27 that the group B competition will remain unchanged.
Football Association of Thailand's President Worawi Makudi said: "The current
political troubles will not prevent Thailand from co-hosting next month's
Suzuki Cup.
Worawi was responding to reports in the New Straits Times that the tournament
would move to Malaysia if the Asean Football Federation (AFF) decided Bangkok
was not safe enough to hold the event.
"I would like to confirm that the tournament will go ahead on schedule," he
said. Matches are scheduled to start in Indonesia on December 5 and in
Thailand on December 6.
"I told the other three teams in our group that if planes are unable to land at
Suvarnabhumi airport, alternatives include Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports."
He said he was sure security would be fine.
"As the host of the tournament, we cannot cancel or change things 10 days before
the tournament begins. We have made a lot of preparations for the tournament and
not to follow through would give Thailand a bad reputation," he said.
The championship will see Vietnam , Thailand , Malaysia and Laos playing in
group B in Bangkok , Singapore , Cambodia , Indonesia and Myanmar will
compete in group A in Jakarta.-Enditem
Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup if current events force a change of venue.
The current political crisis in Thailand , which saw Thai protesters besiege
Suvarnabhumi Airport on Nov 26 night, forced thinking about changes, to
tournament logistics.
Fifteen flight between Hanoi and Bangkok were cancelled on Nov 26 as a
result of the protests.
Malaysia are also being considered as an alternative host if Thailand is
unable to hold the matches from December 5-12.
Chairman of the Vietnam Football Federation, Nguyen Trong Hy, who is in Shanghai
for an Asian Football Confederation meeting, said Vietnam are ready to host the
game if AFF appoints them to do so.
Vietnam hosted the championship in 1998 and one of the groups in 2004.
Last year, Vietnam successfully organised the final round of the Asian Cup
along with Thailand , Malaysia and Indonesia .
However, the Football Association of Thailand confirmed with the Bangkok Post on
Nov.27 that the group B competition will remain unchanged.
Football Association of Thailand's President Worawi Makudi said: "The current
political troubles will not prevent Thailand from co-hosting next month's
Suzuki Cup.
Worawi was responding to reports in the New Straits Times that the tournament
would move to Malaysia if the Asean Football Federation (AFF) decided Bangkok
was not safe enough to hold the event.
"I would like to confirm that the tournament will go ahead on schedule," he
said. Matches are scheduled to start in Indonesia on December 5 and in
Thailand on December 6.
"I told the other three teams in our group that if planes are unable to land at
Suvarnabhumi airport, alternatives include Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports."
He said he was sure security would be fine.
"As the host of the tournament, we cannot cancel or change things 10 days before
the tournament begins. We have made a lot of preparations for the tournament and
not to follow through would give Thailand a bad reputation," he said.
The championship will see Vietnam , Thailand , Malaysia and Laos playing in
group B in Bangkok , Singapore , Cambodia , Indonesia and Myanmar will
compete in group A in Jakarta.-Enditem
