For those who haven’t caught up on the gos, the luckless Vietnam Swans went down to the Malaysian Warriors last weekend by just 100 dodgy points.

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger: so now we’re as strong as an ox and looking forward to a guaranteed win for half of us in the next local Derby:

Match: Saigon Saints Vs Hanoi Hawks/Swans

Date: Saturday 19 April 2008

Location: Nha Trang

Time: TBA 

The last couple of local derbies have both been played in Saigon. Nha Trang will be a brave new world. Also happening on the same weekend will be a rugby match between the Saigon Geckos and the Hanoi Dragons.

There is likely to be some support from the Australian Embassy to help celebrate the 35^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam. Making it even more special is the fact that 2008 marks the 150^th birthday for Aussie Rules (not in Vietnam but in Australia). As if that’s not enough, the Vietnam Swans will take advantage of the opportunity to farewell the latest; this time, Sensational Sam Grigg.

Cheap domestic airfares (and trains), no visas and $10 accommodation options should ensure that we have heaps of players for the Saigon Saints and Hanoi Hawks/Swans. To prove me correct, register your interest in coming to Nha Trang by email.

At the beginning, middle and end of the country, it’s all footy.

The beauty about playing in major international championships is that you have heaps of camera angles to see what really happened.

Here, Bossink bares his teeth and says to Thailand’s Cameron Sinclair, “Come and get me!”. So Cameron did and laid the tackle. Hate that.

Surprisingly, Cameron says that his origins are Kiwi and rugby. Really? We would like to see a third camera angle to confirm that statement.  

Ed reports that it’s “all great Down Under – except for the -4 temperatures on arrival. Got through shearing, lots of beers with the boys and of course, back in the water. First surf got hailed on in 8 – 10 degree water. Gotta love Tassie”.

Tassie will be more loveable when global warming has kicked in.

This photo may not be of Ed, but it is proof of Tassie’s decent surf!

Nice Jumper Phil! (Jaspas, Hanoi, December 2004)

Swans Super Star, Mr Ed & his lovely wife, Kate, recently took Kate’s folks to meet the staff and students from the 19-5 Warmhouse Orphanage.  They presented a big bag of educational and recreational materials donated by Gekko Trails NZ, which were gratefully received.  Students at the orphanage are always looking for new books and writing equipment, so if anyone has spares please pass them on. 

Thanks Roger & Jenny Wilson for providing the gifts donated by Gekko Trails’ customers, and Sue and Wally Talbot for taking time out to have a bit of fun with the students.

Footnote: When asked by the media about how successful the day had been for the children, Gekko Trails NZ and themselves, Mr Ed simply said, “Gowwwwld”.

It’s not unusual for stunners to stalk stars of the Swans. After all, we’re elite athletes and they’re only human. Last weekend, Austrade’s Australian Schools Open Day in HCMC was no exception. Seizing a photo opportunity, the Vietnam Swans presented each of these “Swanettes” with a QBE Vietnam Swans hat in memory of the occasion. When asked if they would like their special hats personally autographed, they told us, “Don’t worry about it”!

The Hanoi Swans Touch Team entered the 3rd Annual Dragons Touch Tournament last weekend and performed fabulously - but just missed out capturing the Cup in a nail biting Final against Al Fresco’s.

Losing to Al Frescos in the first match of pool play, the Swans regrouped to beat UNIS Touch in a 4-3 victory to move into the knock-out comp. The first semi-final game was against defending Champs, Jafa. A tight first half was followed by a thumping as Jafa ran out of steam against the deep bench of the Swans in a 6-1 defeat.

The Swans then took on Al Fresco’s again for the Final and jumped to an early lead, only to see that tied at the end of the game due to some big plays from their star back Alec, the fastest guy on the pitch. A sudden death, drop off- play off ensued whereby each minute, both teams lost a player.

The Swans almost had the Cup sealed until the whistle blew back the clever scoring combo of Vinay and Mick Growder for a forward pass! After that, we were down to 3 players each and it was only a matter of time before young Alec broke around the end to score and win it for Al Frescos.

Your fabulous Swans this year in the photo above were from Left to Right:

Vinay Greenwood, Matt Otto, David, Mic Growder, Tung, Vuong, Sue Woodbury, Sue McKeag, Liz, Van, Christine

Many thanks for your efforts out there and well done for keeping the Swans in the title match 3 years in a row now.

Special thanks also to MJ and DT for the jumpers and support on the day with the new Swans QBE Hats!!

Who was Mr 30? None other than Club Legend (he supplied us with Pepperoni Pizzas during the original viewings of Friday Night Football), Mick Francis, the Pied Piper of Hanoi.

When presented with a bouquet of flowers, in Vietnam soccer match style, to celebrate the 30 signatures milestone, Mike was shy and retiring.

But when the ball bounces in the Champs, there’ll be nothing shy and retiring about this giant of a man. Oooooh, does he love a bit of pig skin!

This is a big boost to the Vietnam Swans campaign which will be looking for the experience of the Swans longest serving captain to guide this hybrid, relatively inexperienced team, at the highest level – international football.

The G-Train’s inclusion brings the touring party’s number to 27. The team comprises players from Hanoi, Saigon and Laos. Additionally, ex Hanoi players now living in Sydney, Canberra and Singapore will also play. Rumours have started to circulate that a couple of players from Cambodia are also likely to make the trip.

To find out more about the upcoming Asian Champs see-attached.pdf .