Host Thailand changes the venue of SEA Games 33, U23 Vietnam is at a disadvantage

The 33rd SEA Games Organizing Committee has just announced a change in the venue for the men's football competition, significantly affecting the preparation plan of the U23 Vietnam team.

U23 Vietnam changed plans when host Thailand adjusted the competition venue of SEA Games 33. Photo: VFF

The draw for the men's and women's football and men's and women's futsal at the 33rd SEA Games has officially taken place in Thailand - the host country of the Games. The Vietnamese teams have all determined their opponents, thereby entering the final stage of preparation towards the goal of achieving high results at the upcoming 33rd SEA Games.

In men's football, Vietnam is in Group B with Malaysia and Laos. The tournament has a total of 10 participating teams, divided into 3 groups, in which Group A and B each have 3 teams, Group C has 4 teams. Group A includes host Thailand, East Timor and Cambodia, Group C includes Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and Singapore.

According to the latest announcement, Group C matches will be moved from 700th Anniversary Stadium (Chiang Mai) to Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

This change means that the four teams in Group C, including U23 Indonesia, U23 Myanmar, U23 Philippines and U23 Singapore, will no longer travel to Chiang Mai, but will instead compete at Rajamangala Stadium with a capacity of more than 51,000 seats.

Meanwhile, group B - where U23 Vietnam is located - will only play at the 700th Anniversary Stadium with matches against U23 Laos and U23 Malaysia.

The fact that the two groups no longer play on the same field affects the U23 Vietnam coaching staff's ability to observe their opponents.

Coach Kim Sang Sik will have to adjust his opponent analysis plan as well as his training schedule, as the team's match schedule will also change.

Accordingly, instead of having the first round off to watch the match between Malaysia and Laos, U23 Vietnam will have to take the field in the opening match against U23 Laos at 6:30 p.m. on December 5.

After that, U23 Malaysia will play their first match against Laos on December 8, and the match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Malaysia will take place at 6:30 p.m. on December 11, deciding the ticket to the semi-finals.

Notably, the host team Thailand did not play in Bangkok but chose Tinsulanon Stadium (Songkhla) as the main venue with a capacity of about 30,000 spectators.

According to the plan, after the group stage ends, the three group winners and the second-placed team with the best results will move to Bangkok to compete in the semi-finals and final at Rajamangala Stadium.

This adjustment is considered to help the host country in organizing more smoothly, but it has forced many teams, including U23 Vietnam, to change their entire schedule and preparation plan for the journey to conquer the gold medal of SEA Games 33.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/chu-nha-thai-lan-thay-doi-dia-diem-thi-dau-sea-games-33-u23-viet-nam-gap-bat-loi-720937.html