When Vietnam fielded its first women’s national soccer team in 1997, its players wore oversized jerseys made for men.
In the years after the Vietnam War — called the American War here — ended in 1975, economic reform took precedence over sports.
The Vietnam Football Federation, which governs soccer in the unified country, was not established until 1989.
In its early days, soccer was widely considered a game for men, too hard and demanding for women to play.
“Society didn’t accept the existence of such a team,” said Mai Duc Chung, 74, Vietnam’s women’s national coach then and now.
Persons:
—, didn’t, ”, Mai Duc Chung
Organizations:
Vietnam, soccer team, Vietnam Football Federation, “
Locations:
Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, Vietnam