The General Department of Sports and Physical Training has disagreed with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) after it invited Coach Hoang Van Phuc to train the national squad  for their two Asian Cup qualifying games early in 2013.

Coach Hoang Van Phuc

According to the department, VFF’s decision has not yet been approved by it and the National Referee Council.

The department said the national team needs a specialised coach, not the one who is also training another team like Phuc.

Meanwhile, VFF said that it has only invited Phuc for the two matches at Asian Cup qualifying round, so that forcing him out would be unreasonable.

After the department’s reaction, VFF said it will work with the department this week on the coach selection for the two Asian Cup qualifying games.

The General Department of Sports and Physical Training has secured its viewpoint that VFF must choose a domestic coach for the national team, particularly in the context of the current national economic difficulties.

They added that the VFF should expand their search to those who have already refused to coach the national team. The federation has said that there are few qualified people who agree to work for the squad.

After Chief Coach Phan Thanh Hung resigned following Vietnam’s poor performance at the recent ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup, VFF had to look for a caretaker coach as the national team prepare to compete in January for the Asian Cup qualifiers.

At its recent Executive Committee meeting, VFF General Secretary Ngo Le Bang revealed that the federation would give priority to a domestic coach, and Hoang Van Phuc was currently highly regarded after his achievements in the BTC Cup.

Despite receiving the invitation, Phuc said that he was waiting for club owner Do Quang Hien’s permission.