Fifa Asean Cup press conference delayed, Laos coach frustrated before win over Brunei
Quick Look
- The inaugural Fifa Asean Cup's pre-tournament press conference was held less than five hours before the opening match, prompting criticism of poor organisation.
- Laos head coach Vladica Grujic expressed frustration over the delay, citing his captain's need for lunch before the evening match.
- Laos went on to beat Brunei 3-1, with Bounphachan Bounkong scoring from the penalty spot, while Myanmar defeated Timor-Leste 2-0 under new coach Jorn Andersen at Mong Kok Stadium.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Fifa Asean Cup is a newly launched tournament featuring national teams from Southeast Asia, with its inaugural edition underway.
Scheduling the pre-tournament press conference less than five hours before the opening match did little to disabuse anyone of the impression that everybody involved in organising the inaugural Fifa Asean Cup is flying by the seat of their pants.
It all got too much for Vladica Grujic, the fiery Laos head coach, as the clock ticked 15 minutes beyond the scheduled 12.15pm start time.
“This is crazy, we’re playing this evening and my player [captain Bounphachan Bounkong] needs to have lunch,” Grujic said to nobody in particular.
The Serb’s team went on to beat Brunei 3-1, the hopefully well-fed Bounphachan netting the opener from the spot, while Myanmar, now under the charge of former Hong Kong coach Jorn Andersen, overcame an easy-on-the-eye Timor-Leste side 2-0 in the second match at a quiet Mong Kok Stadium.
Open Questions
- Why was the press conference scheduled so close to the match?
- What are the broader implications for tournament organisation moving forward?
