Mr Somsavat Lengsavad (centre), Mr Viphet Sihachakr, officials and footballers gather for a meeting at the Lao Plaza Hotel in Vientiane on Monday.

Lao footballers on top form for SEA Games

Laos’ football teams are gearing up to do their best and raise their ranking with a strong performance at the 31st South-East Asian (SEA) Games, which take place in Vietnam from May 12-23.
The men’s football team hopes to win their six matches and make it through to the semi-finals and even the final.
In the first round of Group B matches, Laos will face Singapore on May 5, Cambodia on May 9, Malaysia on May 11, and Thailand on May 16.
The squad will travel to Vietnam on May 4.
Meanwhile, the women’s team will play in Group B, taking on Myanmar on May 10, Singapore on May 13, and Thailand on May 15.
They will travel to Vietnam on May 6.
The two sides have set themselves high targets but will face an uphill battle against the region’s traditional football powerhouses.
The Lao Football Federation (LFF) held a press conference on Monday to report on the teams’ preparations for the games.
The briefing was attended by the Federation’s Honorary President, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, LFF President Mr Viphet Sihachakr, officials, and footballers.
Mr Somsavat said the trainers and footballers were working well together and had a shared understanding of the task that lay ahead and the challenges involved.
He believed the players had improved but said trainers must give strong and well considered guidance on the tactics to be employed during each match.
He also advised the players to respect the rules and to behave in a sportsmanlike manner while on the pitch.
Mr Viphet said the Federation would give 100 million kip for each win, plus a bonus.
The Federation is funding the teams’ preparations for the SEA Games.
In February this year, the men’s team received 100 million kip from a sponsor after unexpectedly beating top guns Malaysia 2-0 in the AFF Under-23 Championship in Cambodia.
After returning from the Championship, the players returned to their clubs for training ahead of League 1 matches. Last month, the LFF announced the 20 footballers who would play in Vietnam.
The Lao women’s team is also eagerly anticipating the SEA Games after a prolonged absence from the prestigious regional sporting event. 
In the meantime, they have competed at the Asean Championship and other events in Asia, with the most outstanding players now forming the national team.

In October 2021, Lao women took part in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Qualifiers, hosted by Bahrain.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
(Latest Update May 4, 2022)