Vietnam's field hockey team will make history when, for the first time,it competes at the 27th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 27) during thisweek's first international tournament.

The sport,which has been played in Vietnam for about 10 years but has not becomepopular, also marks its return to the regional biennial tournament aftereight years, since last being played during the Games in 2005 inManila, the Philippines.

Although field hockey is anewcomer at the SEA Games, and all members are not professionalathletes, the Vietnamese set a target of winning a bronze medal duringtheir debut competition in Myanmar.

"We have alwaysdreamed that one day we could wear the national jersey. Now it comestrue, surprisingly. I and my teammates all know our responsibilitieswhen representing Viet Nam in this regional competition. We will try ourbest to write a story," said Huynh Dai Phuc, one of the mostexperienced players on the team.

"We hope thatthrough these games, field hockey will be more widely popularised in ourcountry, and more people will come and the sport will developstrongly," said the coach assistant.

The 17-memberteam will depart on December 11 and meet the Singapore team in theirfirst match at Thein Phyu Stadium in Yangon city.

Atthe 27th SEA Games there are five teams competing in the men'stournament and six in the women's (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore,Indonesia, Cambodia, and Myanmar).-VNA