Park Ji-Sung & Friends to play friendly in Vietnam

An international friendly match called “Asian Dream Cup”, between “Park Ji Sung and friends” team, and Vietnam’s Navibank Saigon FC, will be held at 6 pm, June 15, at Ho Chi Minh City’s Thong Nhat Stadium.

Park Ji-Sung and friends squad list:


GK: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse, Japan)

Defenders: Lee Young Pyo (Al-Hilal, South Korea), Li Weifeng (Tianjin Teda, China), Han Qingsong (Yanbian, China), Patrice Evra (Manchester United, France)

Midfielders: Park Ji Sung (South Korea, Manchester United), Lee Chung Young (South Korea, Bolton), Ki Sung Yeung (South Korea, Celtic), Nam Tae-Hee (South Korea, Valenciennes), Chi Zhongguo (China, Yanbian), Matsui (Grenoble, Japan), Hitedoshi Nakata (Japan)

Forwards: Park Chu Young (South Korea, Monaco), Jong Tae Se (North Korea, Bochum), Jin Jingdao (China, Yanbian), Jo Gook Jung (South Korea, Auxere)

Highlights: SHB Da Nang 2-1 Dong Thap

Highlights: LS Thanh Hoa 3-1 Hoa Phat

V-League 2011: Round 16 Results

Ha Noi T&T 3-1 Ha Noi ACB
Thanh Hoa 3-0 Hoa Phat
Binh Duong 2-2 HAGL
DT Long An 2-1 Khanh Hoa
Da Nang 2-1 Dong Thap
Hai Phong 1-0 SLNA
Navibank Saigon 3-1 Ninh Binh

Lee Nguyen back to US for recovery

Binh Duong midfielder Lee Nguyen will return to the US to recover from his broken foot. It means his season is over and Lee Nguyen will not come back to Vietnam until November. Despite being one of best-paid players in the league, the American-Vietnamese player hasn't had many chances to play as he is often sidelined by injury. His contract with Binh Duong will run out at the end of this season.

SLNA eliminated

SLNA was eliminated from AFC Cup after losing 1-3 to Persipura on home ground this afternoon. It was definitely a very disappointing result. But the worst thing is SLNA shocked its own fans when fielding a reserve squad to play this continental game (well, not very shocking indeed). Understandably, the club was slammed with furious words from its supporters. Some decided to leave the stadium or cheer the visitors.

Vietnamese clubs at AFC Cup:

2007: Hoa Phat Ha Noi (Group stage)
2009: Becamex Binh Duong (Semi-final), Ha Noi ACB (Group stage)
2010: Becamex Binh Duong (Round of 16), SHB Da Nang (Quarter-final)
2011: SLNA (Round of 16), Ha Noi T&T (Group stage).

Highlights: SLNA 1-0 DT Long An

Highlights: Vissai Ninh Binh 2-1 Binh Duong

Injury sideline Kavin for the rest of season

SLNA top striker Kavin Bryan suffered a broken ankle in this afternoon game and can only return to football after several months. It would be a huge blow for V-League leaders SLNA who are preparing for AFC Cup round of 16. Kavin will also lose his place in Jamaica squad for Gold Cup 2011.

V-League 2011: Round 15 Results

Hoa Phat v Ha Noi T&T: 2-0
Vissai Ninh Binh v Binh Duong: 2-1
Ha Noi ACB v LS Thanh Hoa: 2-1
HAGL v SHB Da Nang: 1-0
SLNA v DT Long An: 1-0
Dong Thap v Navibank Saigon: 0-2
Khanh Hoa v Hai Phong: 0-2

Brazilian and Nigerian dominate foreigners list

Number of foreign players:

V-League 2011

19 from BRAZIL
13 from NIGERIA
7 from UGANDA
5 from GHANA
4 from ARGENTINA
4 from CAMEROON
3 from JAMAICA
2 from SIERRA LEONE
2 from TANZANIA
2 from THAILAND
1 each from SENEGAL, PARAGUAY, CAPE VERDE, SOUTH AFRICA, USA, HOLLAND, UKRAINE, TOGO, FRANCE, KENYA and ZIMBABWE.

First Division 2011

15 from BRAZIL
15 from NIGERIA
5 from CAMEROON
4 from UGANDA
1 each from TOGO, ARGENTINA, CONGO, CROATIA, GHANA and KENYA.

Mid-season transfer window summary

VICEM HAI PHONG

In: Ruy Netto (Brazil), Anicet Enyenga (Cameroon), Truong Dinh Luat (loan from Saigon XT), Do Thanh Sang (from Binh Dinh).

Out: Osas Idehen, Mba Okonu.

KHANH HOA

In: Tran Duy Quang (loan from Saigon XT)

HANOI ACB

In: Nguyen Cong Minh (loan from SLNA), Thierry Ngale (loan from SLNA), Joel Tchami (Cameroon).

HANOI T&T

In: Antonio Tavares (Cape Verde).
Out: Matias Recio.

BINH DUONG

In: David Veloso (Brazil), Danny van Bakel (Netherland), Bernard Achaw (Ghana).
Out: Joseph Nwafor.

VISSAI NINH BINH

In: Ceaser Okhuti (Uganda).
Out: Giovanni Speranza, Joseph Laumann.

NAVIBANK SAIGON

In: Vincent Bossou (Togo), Joseph Ochaya (Uganda), Ntambi Kirizestom (Uganda).
Out: Almeida, Leandro Cruz, Marcio Giovanini.

SHB DA NANG

In: Nguyen Tan Dien (loan from Hanoi T&T).

HAGL

In: Kabba Samura (Sierra Leone).
Out: Ijike.

DT LONG AN

In: Jose Oliveira (Brazil).
Out: Tshamala Kabanga.

Falko Goetz agree to coach Vietnam NT

German coach Falko Goetz and VFF officials have reached final agreement about a 2-year deal. The former Hertha Berlin coach is expected to arrive in Vietnam next week to sign the contract and officially become new Vietnam coach. He will be paid a monthly salary of around US$ 25,000.

V-League 2011: Round 14 Results

Ha Noi ACB v Hoa Phat: 3-2
Ha Noi T&T v LS Thanh Hoa: 0-0
Vicem Hai Phong v DT Long An: 0-0
SLNA v Khanh Hoa: 4-0
Vissai Ninh Binh v SHB Da nang: 0-4
Binh Duong v Navibank Saigon: 3-1
Dong Thap v HAGL: 1-1

Minh Phuong won Golden Ball

SHB Da Nang and Vietnam captain Nguyen Minh Phuong has won the Golden Ball award that was announced this morning. Pham Thanh Luong and Nguyen Vu Phong came second and third respectively.

Van Quyet (left)

Vietnam U19 captain Nguyen Van Quyet, who is playing for Ha Noi T&T, won Best Young Player award while Hoa Phat's Dinh Thanh Trung is runner-up.

Nigerian striker Samson Kayode defeated last year's winner Sebastian Gaston Merlo to win Best Foreign Player award.

5 more foreign players get naturalized

Marcelo

Five foreign players including Marcelo Barbieri (Brazil - HAGL), Wandwasi Rodgers (Uganda - Thanh Hoa), Jonathan Quartey (Ghana - Hanoi ACB), Thierry Ngale (Cameroon - SLNA) and Amaobi Uzowuru (Nigeria - Binh Dinh) have been granted Vietnamese citizenship. They all have lived for at least 5 years in Vietnam and met other requirements to be Vietnamese.

There is a total of 18 naturalized players playing in Vietnam.

Sierra Leone international joins HAGL

Kabba Samura, 29, is the latest addition to HAGL in preparation for the second phase of V-League 2011. The right midfielder who has represented his country 5 times will replace striker Ejike in the foreign players list of HAGL. Before coming to Vietnam, Samura played for FK Mugan, an Azerbaijani club.

AFC Cup 2011: SLNA top its group

SLNA 4-2 VB Sports
Victory SC 0-1 Ha Noi T&T

While Ha Noi T&T said bye to AFC Cup with a victory, SLNA completed the group stage with an easy home win and reached the last 16 as group winner. The V-League leader will play an one-off game with Indonesian side Persipura at Vinh stadium on May 25 next round.

Saigon International Football League

Saigon International Football League (SIFL) is a very organized amateur football league which was founded in 2000 as four local expat teams and one Vietnamese side decided to compete on a more formal basis.

The competition is now composed of 10 clubs with local players and expat players mostly from France, Great Britain, Australia and Japan. Despite being an amateur league, it has a very good website which is better than most V-League sites I know. You can find fixtures, results, stats, player info and some useful news.

Olympique de Saigon is the most successful team, having won the league 5 times. The club has two former V-League players, Frederic Rault and David Serene. Both are French and played in V-League 10 years ago. The club also has a nice website.

Quinton Fortune seeking chances in Vietnam

Former United midfielder Quinton Fortune is currently under trial with Ha Noi T&T. Despite his big reputation, the South African still has to do a lot more to convince the coach. His first show in a training game was not quite impressive. Quinton Fortune, now 34, hasn't played for any club since January 2010.

Kesley rejects Vicem Hai Phong

V-League side Vicem Hai Phong's attempt to loan Saigon Xuan Thanh striker was unsuccessful. Kesley has no intention to return to V-League this year despite his club is willing to let the naturalised striker to leave on loan.

Kesley is believed to be the best-paid player in Vietnam now. His club is 10 points clear from the second-ranked team in First Division and is very likely to get promoted to V-League 2012. It might be the reason why Sai Gon Xuan Thanh could let him leave on temporary move to reduce wage bill.

V-League 2012 to start in December

VFF has informed clubs about some changes of V-League 2012. The next season will begin with Super Cup game on December 3rd, 2011. The first round of V-League 2012 is on December 18th.

Mai Duc Chung take charge of national team

As the selection of new coach for Vietnam national team lasts longer than expected, Navibank Saigon coach Mai Duc Chung was appointed as caretaker coach of the team in order to prepare for the WC 2014 qualifier versus Macau. The Olympic team will be temporarily led by Ha Noi T&T coach Phan Thanh Hung.

Transfer updates

*Vietnam international Truong Dinh Luat is likely to join Vicem Hai Phong.

*Binh Duong has terminated its contract with goalkeeper Nguyen The Anh and signed with a Brazilian striker naming David Carlos Teles Veloso.

Highlights: TSW Pegasus 2-3 SLNA

AFC Cup 2011: Ha Noi T&T eliminated, SLNA won

Ha Noi T&T 0-0 Muang Thong United
TSW Pegasus 2-3 SLNA

Formosinho replaced by Dang Tran Chinh

Binh Duong coach Ricardo Formosinho resigned from his post following a long run of poor results. Dang Tran Chinh, who had a short spell with Becamex Binh Duong last year, will replace the Portuguese.

Highlights: Lam Son Thanh Hoa 3-1 Vissai Ninh Binh

V-League 2011: Round 13 Results

HAGL 0-1 SLNA
Hoa Phat Ha Noi 2-1 Binh Duong
SHB Da Nang 3-1 Vicem Hai Phong
Thanh Hoa 3-1 Ninh Binh
Navibank Saigon 5-0 Ha Noi ACB
DT Long An 1-1 Dong thap

Dutsit Chalermsan resigns

In the wake of the home defeat to SLNA, HAGL coach Dusit Chalermsan decided to resign. Replacement for the Thai man will be announced soon.