Vietnam friendlies important for players ahead of AFC Asian Cup: Bhaichung Bhutia

Bhaichung Bhutia is excited about India's tour of Vietnam and feels the matches there could help the team in the run-up to the Asian Cup. The two friendly matches are scheduled on September 24 and September 27. The Blue Tigers have travelled to Vietnam to play the Hung Thinh Friendly Football Tournament against Singapore and hosts Vietnam.

Twenty years ago, Bhutia was the captain when India won the historic 2002 LG Cup in Vietnam. The current two-match tour, Bhutia said, will be a good opportunity for the Indian team to prepare before the Asian Cup next year. "I think it's great for our national team that they are going to play some matches there.

I think it will be a good tour. Vietnam are a very good team. So are Singapore.

It's going to be a useful experience for the players," said Bhutia. Early this week, the AIFF executive committee endorsed the technical committee's recommendation to extend senior men's team head coach Igor Stimac's contract till the end of the Asian Cup. The former Blue Tigers striker feels the extension will give the required time to both players and the coach to build the team chemistry.

"It is a very sensible decision taken by the committee because we are not left with too much time before we plunge into the Asian Cup battle. The extension will help coaches and the players feel more comfortable and will give them ample time to build on what they have been doing for the last three to four years. "So hopefully, I think this match and the preparation for the Asia Cup would now be much better," Bhutia said.