Park Hang-seo: 'SEA Games is important to Vietnam'
In an interview published on Gyeongnam Ilbo yesterday, the Korean coach shared his plans for 2019.
- How was your vacation in Korea?
- I went back to my hometown to see my parents, siblings and grandchildren after a long time apart. I thank them for giving me the freedom to do what I want. During my time in Korea, I received many interview requests but could not answer all of them. Everything I did in my hometown was reported to Vietnam. Therefore, I hope you understand my caution.
- What awaits you when you return to Vietnam?
- I will join the U22 team on March 6 to prepare for the U23 Asian qualifiers on March 22. I need to make a list of 30 players before finalizing the main squad. I have directly followed a few players, but there are still many cases where I have not been able to see them play with my own eyes.
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Coach Park Hang-seo interviewed in Korea. |
- Do you have to choose between the national team and the U23 team?
- I am consulting with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) but honestly, it is very difficult to take on two jobs at the same time. Both teams have important tasks in 2019, with the national team being the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and the U22 team being the 30th SEA Games. I have proposed reducing the workload and instructing one team. I think it would be more effective to focus completely on one job.
- What is your number one priority in 2019?
- The SEA Games are very important to Vietnamese football. People see it as a miniature Olympics of Southeast Asia. This year's tournament takes place in November 2019, coinciding with the time when the national team participates in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The VFF wants me to do both. Therefore, I will not have much time to prepare and choose. Perhaps, I will have to give up one task at a certain time.
Personally, I don’t care which team to choose from the two options above. I will discuss carefully with VFF and do not rule out the possibility of doing both. For now, the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers are the main priority. Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand are all opponents that cannot be underestimated. We need to achieve good results to aim for a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
- The pressure on you in your second year in Vietnam seems heavier?
- I think it's the same. After the 2018 Asian Games, I attended the AFF Cup at the end of the year, then the Asian Cup. That cycle repeats in 2019, starting with the U23 tournament, then the World Cup qualifiers and maybe the SEA Games. The issue here, in my opinion, is the final result. The job of a football coach is closely tied to results. As long as you maintain good results, you won't be criticized. I had a pretty long vacation in Korea, and now I'm ready to come back.
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Coach Park Hang-seo was appointed as tourism ambassador of Samcheong. |
- How do you feel about not being able to play the Super Cup match with Korea as planned?
- I only know that the match between the Southeast Asian champion and the East Asian champion has been postponed indefinitely, although it was previously scheduled for March 26. I am eager to compete with the Korean team, but I understand that now is not the right time to organize such a match. That is really regrettable. Hopefully, if there is a suitable time, Vietnam will be able to compete with the strongest squad of Korea.
- There are more and more Korean coaches working in Vietnam. What do you think about this?
- There are three people working in V-League, including Lee Heung-sil (Viettel coach), Lee Tae-hoon (HAGL technical director) and Chung Hae-seong (HCMC technical director). I cannot directly help but hope they can achieve good results in Vietnam.
- What is the motivation that makes Vietnamese players make great progress like last year?
- I don't see anything special. The most obvious thing is that both me and them are constantly trying to improve. Each person keeps faith in themselves and trusts the people around them.
