Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam coach Chen Yun Fa has set his side the target of a first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance by claiming one of the five tickets available for the 2015 edition at the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, beginning with victory over Jordan in their opening fixture on Wednesday at Thong Nhat Stadium.
Hosts for the second time, but drawn in a tough Group A alongside World Cup winners Japan and defending Asian Cup champions Australia, coach Chen is determined that, while his side are not favourites on paper to win the tournament, they will at least finish in fifth place and qualify for the World Cup in Canada next year.
In order to achieve this goal, Vietnam underwent training camps in Guangzhou and Korea Republic, playing six friendly fixtures, in an effort to raise their levels and condition ahead of the continental tournament in Ho Chi Minh City.
“We have made good preparation before coming into the competition and as hosts we will endeavor to play good football,” said coach Chen.
“The training camps in Korea and China were suitable for our players and they learnt a lot and raised their performances. Their fitness levels are good and they will adapt well to conditions here.
“There are four very strong teams in this competition, so our practical goal is to aim for fifth place and take the last ticket to the World Cup finals.”
To do so, it is imperative that the hosts get off to winning ways in their opener against Masahiko Okiyama’s Jordan side who make their debut in the competition, as the first West Asian side to participate in the continental championship.
“Both teams have an equal chance in this game and the result depends on which team is the luckier and make use of the opportunities they have,” said coach Chen.
“We will do our best to put on a strong performance and satisfy our home spectators.”
If Vietnam seem to have modest goals, Jordan coach Okiyama is quite the opposite setting his recently crowned WAFF champions the goal of shrugging off the underdog mantle and claiming a top three finish at the tournament.
“We’re seriously thinking about winning one of the top three medals. Despite being in a very difficult group with the World Cup champions, the defending Asian champions and the hosts, we will challenge them, we will fight them, and we will surprise everybody with our performance,” said coach Okiya.
“We are a representative of West Asian and Muslim countries so we will do our best for us and them as it means a lot for them. We will have the chance, with our performances here, to improve West Asian football in the women’s game.
“We have played friendly matches against Vietnam before and unfortunately we lost. But we’re improving more and more and we’re looking forward to the meeting, and we’ll play with a sense of honour and fun.”