Casset visit Vietnam for squad trials

Casset visit Vietnam for squad trials

HANOI: A French-born soccer player of Vietnamese origin is to fly to Vietnam this week for national team trials after saying he was willing to join the squad, the Vietnam Football Federation said on Tuesday.

Ludovic Casset, 26, born to a French father and a Vietnamese mother, will arrive in Hanoi on Oct. 30 after his current team, Auxerre, gave him the green light, Nguyen Lan Trung, the federation's spokesman said.

"He had sent a letter earlier to the national team's coach, Edson Tavares, saying he would like to play for the team," he added.

Casset, an amateur who has yet to play in Auxerre's French league professional team, is expected to bring documents to prove his Vietnamese parentage.

Vietnam's national team is trying to progress after years of lethargic performance. The red and golds currently rank last in the Asian Group seven in World Cup qualifying, behind South Korea, Lebanon and Maldives. -- AFP