The Swannies at our first Champs, Bangkok, 2007.

National Prez, Phil Johns, gives us the update on the eve of the 2011 Asian Championships, Bangkok.

Dear Swannies, Sponsors and Supporters

  • Tomorrow, the 2011 Asian Championships, Bangkok
  • The Swannies Asian Champs banner
  • Sponsors’ advertisement in Champs Footy Record
  • 2 Minutes Video – The Swannies Asian Champs teaser
  • Interviews – Five minutes with the Flyer
  • Announcement of visiting team for 2012 ANZAC Friendship Match
  • Results of tomorrow’s Champs
  • And finally…

Tomorrow, the 2011 Asian Championships, Bangkok

We started flying out yesterday to Bangkok. The rest of us will fly out this afternoon for tomorrow’s Holy Grail of Asian Footy; the 2011 Asian Championships.

In 2007 – also in Bangkok – the Vietnam Swans debuted at the Asian Champs and so tomorrow will mark our 5th appearance at the Champs. Five guys from the first tour will return for our 5th Champs. In 2007, we turned up as the minnows in a competition that featured heavyweights such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Bali. Tomorrow, in terms of numbers, the Swannies turn up with the second strongest squad.

Our Draw has us playing Lao, Macau, Hong Kong and debutants, Cambodia (before the semi finals and GF). In each of our previous three games against Cambodia, they have been closing the gap. Lao has beaten us each time we have played them at the Champs. We are yet to have played Macau but they have match fitness playing in the Southern China League. Hong Kong has a record that speaks for itself.

Against that, the Swannies are the reigning Indochina Cup Premiers (beating Cambodia, Lao and Thailand). We won the ANZAC Friendship Match earlier this year against Hong Kong. We have good numbers. We have good players. We have good heart. In summary, we have a good chance in the 2011 Asian Champs.

The Swannies are also keen to acknowledge the contribution of several players who, unfortunately, cannot make this tour for various reasons.

The Swannies Asian Champs banner

Another mega banner by Ross McRae (see below). The banner reflects the national composition of the club nowadays with pictures of key people from Hanoi, Hoi An, Saigon and Vung Tau. It also acknowledges one champion behind the ANZAC Friendship Match and another for our support for swimming lessons for Vietnamese children. And there’s recognition of the five players who were there in 2007 and will be there tomorrow. The players are wearing black armbands in honour of Val, Ron Vernon’s sister in law.

Swannies thank Sponsors in Footy Record.

Sponsors’ advertisement in Champs Footy Record

The Vietnam Swans have placed a full page advertisement in the Asian Champs Footy Record to promote our National Sponsors. To see a copy of the ad, click on the attached.

2 Minutes Video – The Swannies Asian Champs teaser

Matt Natalotto has put together a two minute teaser video for the Swannies. It contains footage from last year’s Champs in Shanghai, the 2010 Indochina Cup and this year’s ANZAC Friendship Match. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6C0-48qG6w

Interviews – Five minutes with the Flyer

Dave Kainey is the Flyer. And he has asked both C. Dan Hopkins (Hanoi Prez) and Ross McRae (Swannies’ banner man) for five minutes of their time. To see the interviews:

Announcement of visiting team for 2012 ANZAC Friendship Match

Tomorrow, just five days before Vietnam Veterans Day (18th August, the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan) the Vietnam Swans will announce details of the visiting team for our 2012 ANZAC Friendship Match, in Vung Tau, to be played on 21 April. As we did at last year’s Champs with the Hong Kong Dragons, the Swannies and the visiting team will meet on the ground tomorrow after the match for a quick preview of next year. Which team will it be…?

Results of tomorrow’s Champs

The Swannies website at www.thevietnamswans.com will provide details of tomorrow’s Champs as quickly as we can.

And finally…

If ya love the Swannies at the 2011 Asian Champs, honk yer horn!

Go you Swannies!!