With the aim of promoting the development of youth football, the organizing committee of the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand has proposed applying the regulation of using only U.22 players for men's football. This regulation was approved after a recent meeting of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT). Thus, coach Kim Sang-sik will not be allowed to use over-age players in the Vietnam U.22 team.
Participating teams will not be allowed to use the additional U.22+3 slots that have been applied in many previous SEA Games. The host country's organizing committee said that this decision is considered to ensure sustainable development and create opportunities for young talents to have more chances to compete and develop, while creating a fairer playing field for all participating teams.
Will U.22 Vietnam make a difference at SEA Games 33?
PHOTO: VFF
SEA Games 33 will take place from December 9 to 20 in Thailand, with all four football events including: men's football, women's football, men's futsal and women's futsal.
At the most recent SEA Games in 2023 in Cambodia, the rule of using only U.22 players in men's football was also applied. With the victory over U.22 Thailand in the final, U.22 Indonesia won the gold medal for the third time and the first time in 32 years, since 1991. Meanwhile, U.22 Vietnam won the bronze medal after a 3-1 victory over U.22 Myanmar in the third-place match.
Regarding the preparation plan for the 2025 SEA Games, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and coach Kim Sang-sik proactively developed a plan very early, the most obvious of which was the call-up of many players of SEA Games age to the national team during the FIFA Days in 2024.
U.22 Vietnam training in China
PHOTO: VFF
Most recently, in September 2024, the U.22 Vietnam team was also given the opportunity to gather, train and participate in an international friendly tournament in China. Next, in the process of preparing for the AFF Cup 2024, young players with the potential to become the core of the squad participating in the SEA Games were also allowed to gather and train with the team, such as goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, midfielder Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Van Truong, Nguyen Thai Son, strikers Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Quoc Viet, Bui Vi Hao.
U.22 Vietnam will face U.22 China
Along with the preparation of the force, VFF will continue to closely coordinate with VPF Company in arranging the competition schedule for the 2025 season, on the principle of ensuring the best for the team and harmonizing and balancing the interests of the clubs. Basically, U.22 will continue to be facilitated to gather and train at the same time as the national team's FIFA Days.
According to the plan, at the first gathering in 2025 on the occasion of FIFA Days next March, the Vietnam U.22 team will participate in the international U.22 football tournament in China, with the participation of 4 U.22 teams, including host U.22 China, U.22 Vietnam and two other quality guest U.22 teams that will be officially announced by the organizing committee in the near future.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chu-nha-thai-lan-chot-the-thuc-bong-da-sea-games-u22-viet-nam-duoc-loi-hay-hai-185250125213916182.htm
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