A Lao U-23 player tries to wrest the ball from a Malaysian player at the AFF Under-23 Championship in Cambodia last week.   --Photo Lao Football Federation

U-23 footballers to play in Lao League 2022

Members of the national U-23 squad will be able to rejoin their clubs for training in preparing for the Lao Premier League 2022, which starts on March 12, after they test negative for Covid-19.
Some of the U-23 squad and staff of the Lao Football Federation (LFF) are currently in a quarantine centre in Champassak province after returning from the AFF Under-23 Championship in Cambodia last week, where they tested positive for the virus.
League matches will be played at the national football stadium.
Young Elephants FC, Army, Vientiane, Ezra, Master Seven, Luang Prabang and Champassak province clubs will take part in the league.
Last year the Pepsi Lao Premier League was postponed from April because of the Covid-19 outbreak but will now take place this month.
However, the League One series will not take place this year. Toyota FC were champions several years ago and the club was able to help develop young footballers so they reached the dizzy heights of playing for the national team.
The League 2021 comprised five clubs, including Chanthaboury (Lao Toyota FC), Young Elephants, Ezra, Vientiane and the Army FC. In the first leg, Young Elephants topped the tables with two wins.
The League 2022 will be an opportunity to improve the skills of U-23 footballers.
The Lao Football Federation will also use the tournament to choose the best players to represent Laos at the 31st South-East Asia (SEA) Games to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, in May.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update March 2, 2022)