The Vietnamese national U-23 football team is in their final training stage to prepare for the 27th Southeast Asian Games next month in Myanmar.

Hoang Van Phuc, the coach of the team, said his players will gather in the central city of Da Nang on November 8 for an eight-day fitness training session. The players will jog on the beach and review tactical training in a stadium.

On November 17, the team will fly to the southern province of Binh Duong to stage two friendly games with a V-League team and a First Division team on Nov. 22 and 24.

They will fly to Myanmar two days later before taking part in a football competition at the event from Nov.1 – 21.

Coach Phuc said he will cut his team from 23 to 20 players right before leaving for Myanmar.

Last month, he was suspended from coaching the team after his players showed their lack of determination and sportsmanship during the 3-3 draw with Bangu Athletico of Brazil at the BTV Cup. Phuc resumed taking the post following a decision of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on November 5.

Phuc told Tuoi Tre after returning to coach the team, “Our team started training for the SEA Games a year ago and now we don’t have much time ahead. I returned to the team because I didn’t want to ruin the preparations and efforts my players have made.”

Earlier, Phuc blamed the VFF for causing him to lose face with the decision to suspend him ahead of the SEA Games.