Surprise squad named for Cup

Back in favour: Pham Van Quyen will wear the national jersey at the Millennium Thang Long-Ha Noi Football Cup next month. — VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI — After being suspended for match fixing five years ago, Pham Van Quyen and Le Van Truong will play for the national team during the Millennium Thang Long-Ha Noi Football Cup next month.

The veterans return made headlines in newspapers across the nation.

"It is a dream come true," said Quyen after hearing the news.

After serving his four-year ban, Quyen has been sidelined for most of the season due to injuries. Quyen returned to the sport last year and played for Song Lam Nghe An, where he proved his talent.

"I dreamed of wearing the national jersey again after I was banned, and now I can do it," said Quyen. "I was not set to play much this season because of my erratic performance and injuries. I was really surprised when I saw my name on the squad list; I couldn't believe."

Truong was at his family's home in Hue when he was informed that he had been called up by the national team.

"It has been five years [since I last played for the national team]," said Truong. "It is a short period in a person's life, but it's really long and hard for a player."

Truong was selected to play for the national team despite his club Hoang Anh Gia Lai having performed two poor recent seasons.

Quyen and Truong are still banned by FIFA, but the Viet Nam Football Federation has asked the world football governing body to drop the ban.

Olympic preparations get underway The Viet Nam Football Federation on Monday also announced its squad of 30 players that will play for the Olympic team. The team will begin training on September 6 till October 3 in HCM City. The team is also managed by Calisto, but will be primarily trained by coach Phan Thanh Hung. The Olympic team will play a friendly match against India on September 16. They will later take part in a tournament which is also called the Millennium Thang Long-Ha Noi Football Cup in HCM City from September 28-October 2, where U23 teams from Singapore, Malaysia and Iran will participate. The international football tourney is one of activities to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the capital. — VNS

Coach Henrique Calisto on Monday selected four strikers, 11 midfielders, nine defenders and two goalkeepers to play for the national team.

The Portuguese coach also surprisingly called up midfielders Nguyen Xuan Thanh and defender Nguyen Huy Hoang to join the squad.

Thanh was member of the Olympic team under coach Alfred Riedl four years ago. He was dismissed from the team after it was discovered that he was using drugs. Thanh was able to turn his life around and made a strong comeback. This year he was one of the key players for the Ha Noi ACB, who were promoted to the V-League at the end of last season.

"Now, I am part of the team and I will cherish this opportunity and I will never give up," Thanh said.

Defender Huy Hoang will finally play for the national team after several times he refused for personal reasons in the past.

"I've not played for the national team for the last two years for different reasons and I felt empty during that time. Now, I can deal with my problems and Calisto believes in me," he said.

Calisto has also pinned his hopes on midfielders Nguyen Minh Phuong and Nguyen Vu Phong and defender Huynh Thanh Quang, who were key members of the national squad when they won the Southeast Asian Football Federation Cup in 2008.

Veteran goalkeeper Duong Hong Son has been selected while Nguyen Manh Dung is making his debut on the squad.

The team will assemble on Sunday and Calisto will select a core of 20 to compete at the Cup from September 20-24 in Ha Noi against North Korea, Kuwait and Australia. — VNS