Source aseanfootball.org

HO CHI MINH CITY (7 June 2009) – Despite being placed in what is essentially the ‘Group of Death’ for the AFF Futsal Championship 2009, defending champions Thailand are confident of making the semi-finals this year.

Thailand’s team spokesman Korn Vongyai said at the pre-tournament press conference this morning that even though they had only brought their mosty Under-21 players for this championship, they should be able to deliver their seventh crown in a row.

“There are a few experienced players from the first team with us here but they are also U21 players, so it is a very young squad,” said Korn.

“We have been training for the last two to three weeks but we will try to defend our crown.”

Following the absence of last years’s semi-finalists Brunei, hosts Vietnam have just made their chance of making the semi-finals this year a lot brighter.

Vietnam team manager Nguyen Huu Bang said that they have been in preparation for the last six months and where they will be hoping that the several players with two to three year’s experience will make the difference.

“The team is in high spirit after their trip to Thailand,” said Nguyen.

“But we are in no position to underestimate anyone, so we will just have to play our usual game and hope for the best.”

In the meantime His Excellency Ravy Khek, the AFF head of delegation said that the federation will look into the matter over Brunei’s absence.

“All that we received was a letter two days before the tournament was due to begin that the Brunei team will not be available. We will check into this issue,” added Ravy.


ADDITIONAL QUOTES

“The draw has already been done,so there’s no point in complaining. We are ready for this tournament and we have prepared the team as well as we could.” - P. Balakrishnan, Malaysia head coach



“It is a very tough group and we will try our best in this tournament. We are hoping to be third time lucky this year after our first two failed attempts of making the semi-finals.” - U Kyi Min Thein, Myanmar team manager



“I agree that this is the Group of Death but for us we will just do our best. Our league had just started which means that the players should be in good physical conditions.” - Ricky Johannes, Indonesia assistant team manager



“We do not want to go home on 11 June. We would like to bring glory to the Philippines when we return home on 15 June.” - Gerry Ledonio, Philippines team manager



“This is the first time that we are involved with Futsal at a really competitive level. We prepared the team for the last six months and even though we do not have proper fields, we still managed to bring ten players and two officials.” - Orlando Mendes, Timor Leste team manager


Group A: Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia

Group B: Philippines Vietnam, Timor Leste



REVISED FIXTURES and RESULTS (All matches at the Phu Tho Stadium)

8 June 2009
1400hrs: Malaysia vs Indonesia
1600hrs: Thailand vs Myanmar
1800hrs: Philippines vs Vietnam


9 June 2009
1400hrs: Timor Leste vs Philippines
1600hrs: Malaysia vs Thailand
1800hrs: Myanmar vs Indonesia

10 June 2009
1400hrs: Myanmar vs Malaysia
1600hrs: Vietnam vs Timor Leste
1800hrs: Indonesia vs Thailand

12 June 2009
Semi-Finals

14 June
Third and Fourth Placing
Final