The Swannies are headed to Bangkok for the 12th Annual Asian Champs.

Saigon Prez Derrin Limbrick hits us with the big news of the week.

Gents, we have now started our build up to the biggest tournament of the year in Asian Footy.

The 12th Annual Asian Championships, 13 August, Bangkok

This year the Asian Champs will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on August 13th with 11 teams competing for the right to be called the Asian Champions for 2011.

Based on our recent form and looking at the teams that are competing this year, I am confident that we can make this the best Champs we have had yet.  The emphasis is now to ensure that we give ourselves the best preparation possible leading up to the Champs.

For those who made it to training in Saigon on the weekend, you would have seen that we are starting to increase the tempo and fitness aspects to training, whilst still maintaining a focus on skills.  This is going to be our focus for the next couple of weeks.

This week we will start training on Thursday at 7 pm at Parklands, 628 A Vo Truong Tuan St, District 2 (just off the Hanoi Highway) and we will be holding mid week training sessions from now until the Champs.  I would ask that anyone who is considering coming to the Asian Champs to do their best to attend these session as we believe that they will be essential to the Swans achieving our goals in Bangkok.

Fitness is going to be a key element to our performance and all of us as individuals must take responsibility for this.  For each session from now until the Champs we will be arranging a short road run prior to the start of training.   So if you are able to make it slightly earlier, please bring your runners as well as your footy boots and make sure that you are at training ready to go by 6 45 pm,

We are also arranging extra training sessions in several locations around HCMC.  In District 2 I will be arranging a running group on most mornings during the week.  Plus I can also recommend some cross fit sessions also held in An Phu at 5. 45 am everyday.  These session help to build your core body strength and fitness.  For those in District 1 or 4, Nick Shiells will be arranging similar sessions, so, if this suits you best, please contact him directly.

Flights

There are a number of options available including Air Asia (just $157 at the moment), Vietnam Airlines and Thia International.

Accommodation

We would like to start to finalize our accommodation arrangements so we would also like people to commit as soon as possible.  Please send me an e-mail confirmation of your attendance and accommodation requirements.   At this stage there are two options being provided, however you do have the option of finding something yourself if you prefer.  Just remember that it needs to be close to where the team bus is leaving from.

The cost for accommodation is around USD 60.00 per, single, double or twin share.  So if you’re on a budget, then share a room and it will only cost you USD 30.00 per night.  That is a great deal.

Hanoi Trip – 23rd August

As a part of our preparation, we will be making a trip to Hanoi to play a friendly which will also act as much needed match practice leading into the Champs.  More information about this to come out this weekend.   This will be a very important match and so it would be great if everyone could make the effort to go.  Plus we are well overdue for a match in Hanoi and it is more than fair that we travel and support a match with our Northern Brothers.

Scotty’s farewell

Scotty is leaving us and heading back to the US to run for Congress.  But before he leaves we will have one more chance to corrupt him via some cheap tequila (although Scotty generally does a good job of this without encouragement as we found out in KL).  There will be drinks at Phatty’s on Wednesday night so get along and buy him a beer before he leaves.

Scotty, make sure you don’t forget us when you hit the dizzying heights of the Oval office. You will always be welcome at the Swans and we wish you all the best for your next journey.

So lots coming up over the next few weeks.   Get on board and start honking your horn for the Swannies and the Asian Champs!

See you all on Thursday, 6 45 sharp!