Myanmar through to its first multi-regional tournament since the 1972 Olympics.
Zeise takes ‘his hat off’ to Myanmar FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Written by Matthew Roebuck
Published in Sport Read 557 times
Photo: Hein Htet/Mizzima
Myanmar coach Gerd Zeise “took his hat off” to his players who have qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history after a Than Paing goal led Myanmar to victory 1-0 over favourites for the game the United Arab Emirates.
The team will now return to Yangon’s Thuwunna Youth Training Centre Stadium for the AFC U-19 Championship semi-finals at 7pm on October 20 to face Qatar. The victory also qualifies the team for trip to New Zealand in May and June 2015.
Goalkeeper Myo Min Latt was again impressive for Myanmar between the posts and Zeise’s tactic of bolstering the defence in a 5-3-2 formation proved wise as Myanmar came under constant but not overwhelming pressure from a strong UAE side, champions of this tournament in 2008.
Having created many opportunities but having struggled to convert them to goals, Myanmar took a more defensive but ruthless approach to the game.
“It was very good to have a break before the quarter-final stage and to use this time for talking about the mental side of the game,” said Zeise after the game.
One chance was all Myanmar needed, when the long leg of Than Paing placed his boot on the end of a ball played across the six yard box in the 53rd minute and scored the only goal of the game.
“Now we will participate in the World Cup, what more could you want,” said the German coach.
The victory returns Myanmar youth football to a position is has not seen since the ‘60s and early ‘70s, a period the country’s fans describe as the ‘Golden Age’, when the White Angels won AFC Youth Championships and qualified for the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Myanmar U-19 won the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in Brunei in August, receiving many plaudits and an invitation to meet President U Thein Sein but Zeise won’t be allowing any distractions after this game.
“After the match in Brunei, there was too much celebrating, when this tournament should have been our focus, it will not happen now, I have three days to calm them down and prepare for the semi-final.”
Myanmar’s senior team are currently playing in Laos in the Asean Football Federation Cup qualifiers, where they currently sit in a qualifying position for the AFF Suzuki Cup that will be held in November and December, co-hosted by Singapore and Vietnam.
Good Luck! 
unstoppable 
