'U23 Vietnam's goal is to reach the final of SEA Games 28'

That was the affirmation of General Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training Vuong Bich Thang in the early Spring At Mui discussion, related to the important goals of Vietnamese Sports in 2015.

Hello Mr. Vuong Bich Thang - General Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, looking back at the overall picture of Vietnamese sports in 2014, what do you think are the successes and limitations that need to be overcome in the new year?

Director General of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training Vuong Bich Thang: The year 2014 has passed, leaving many different emotions in the hearts of those working in the field of physical training and sports. First of all, we must talk about the development of mass sports, through the success of organizing the Sports Festival at all levels. 98.5% of communes, wards and towns; 99.8% of districts and 100% of provinces and cities across the country have successfully organized the festival. The 7th National Sports Festival also ended successfully in Nam Dinh and many provinces and cities across the country, recording many new festival and national records.

Mr. Vuong Bich Thang - General Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training assessed that the goal of reaching the final of the 28th SEA Games for the Vietnam U23 team is relatively heavy. Photo: Thanh Ha

Through the organization of Sports Festivals at all levels, the participation, response and active support of the masses for sports activities were also recorded. In high-performance sports, 2014 was a year that marked the mark of many young athletes through the achievements of 2 gold medals of Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (swimming) and athlete Nguyen Tran Anh Tuan (weightlifting) at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.

At the 17th ASIAD, although the Vietnamese Sports Delegation did not achieve the target of winning 2-3 gold medals, it still brought home many outstanding achievements, showing special development for 5 sports that won medals for the first time at the ASIAD including gymnastics, cycling, boxing, fencing and swimming. Para sports also made a strong breakthrough by being in the top 10 at the Asian Para Games for the first time.

In football alone, the positive effects of the U19 team, the achievement of the women's football team reaching the top 4 at the ASIAD and many positive signs appearing in the national U23 team and the Vietnam team. However, 2014 ended with some concerns for those working in sports. That was the negative phenomenon appearing in the 2 Ninh Binh and Dong Nai clubs, there was still a situation of teams leaving the V-League, creating instability for the professional football environment.

In addition, violent acts on the field, uncivilized reactions among coaches and athletes, although not many, have a huge impact on the image of the country's sports industry.

In 2015, what are the important goals of Vietnamese Sports, sir?

- Regarding state management, the sports sector will summarize the activities of the Law on Physical Training and Sports after 8 years of implementation to advise and propose to the National Assembly to amend the law to better suit reality. In addition, it will summarize the implementation of Resolution No. 16 of the Government on the implementation of Resolution No. 08 of the Politburo on strengthening the leadership of the Party, creating a strong development step in Physical Training and Sports by 2020 and study and review all physical training and sports activities to advise and propose to the Government to change policies and mechanisms on physical training and sports activities to create fundamental and comprehensive changes in the management and operation of physical training and sports activities towards promoting socialization and professionalization of physical training and sports activities...

With high-performance sports, in 2015 the focus will be on preparing athletes to participate in the 28th SEA Games and competitions to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. Currently, with the policy of investing in sports with focus, key points, depth and not spreading out, the appearance of Vietnamese sports will have many changes and we will give more priority to the strong sports and events in the Olympic and ASIAD competition programs, while at the same time, narrowing down some other sports and events.

Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has officially approved the list of 48 athletes receiving key investment (the first time) and Vietnamese sports will have more new hopes from this policy. In addition, after organizing the 7th National Sports Festival, the sports industry will also review, evaluate and make adjustments to the organization of the next Festival to better suit the actual conditions and make this playground truly the pinnacle of high-performance sports in the country.

The young HAGL players made a big splash in the U19 Vietnam team in 2014. Photo: HAGL

In 2014, the U19 team created an interesting phenomenon. Looking from this phenomenon, what is the perspective of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training in training and using young athletes in sports teams in general and football in particular?

- In fact, the training of young people in Vietnamese sports is currently facing many difficulties in terms of mechanisms, policies, facilities and especially funding sources, so many localities have not implemented well and have not put the training of young people in its proper position and role in the process of sports development. This has also been our great concern about this issue for many years.

In 2014, in addition to the phenomenon created by the young players of the U19 team who grew up from the training center of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club, along with the appearance of many excellent young athletes in many other sports, these are good signs but it cannot be denied that there are still limitations. On the side of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, we always create the best possible conditions for localities, in order to make youth training more and more effective, but we also encounter many difficulties and to overcome these difficulties, we need solutions such as calling for social resources and amending mechanisms and policies, in order to create more attractiveness for athletes to follow the path of professional sports.

Regarding the use of young athletes, it is clear that young athletes have created positive effects, typically the phenomenon in the U19 team last year, but the use of young athletes also needs to be carefully calculated. It is impossible to demand that young athletes immediately have achievements that surpass those of mature athletes. To achieve sports achievements is a long-term accumulation of physical strength, expertise, experience, psychology, and will. Therefore, for the use of young athletes in sports, the teams must be both a requirement and a task for them to have maturity and there should be a combination, supervision, and support from mature athletes so that the teams always complete the tasks and goals set.

Regarding the national U23 team, what goals does the General Department of Sports and Physical Training set for the team at the upcoming 28th SEA Games?

- At the Vietnam Olympic Committee Executive Committee Meeting held in early 2015, we also set performance targets for the Vietnamese Sports Delegation when participating in the 28th SEA Games. For the national U23 men's football team, the General Department of Sports and Physical Training set a target of reaching the final match. It must also be said that, even though it is a target, it is still very heavy in the context of football in the countries in the region is increasingly developing and requires the VFF, the coaching staff and the players themselves to make the highest efforts in training and competing to meet the expectations of the majority of domestic fans.

On the occasion of the new year of the Goat, on behalf of those working in sports and the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, I would like to send my sincere thanks and best wishes for good health and happiness to all sports fans in the country. We also hope that fans across the country will continue to accompany, cheer, support, help and contribute ideas so that Vietnamese sports can develop further.

Thank you for the interview and I wish Vietnamese sports will continue to reap more success in the Year of the Goat.

According to TTVH