Vietnamese football structure

For those who are interested, below is list of Vietnamese clubs and location according to VFF website.


V-League 2011

Song Lam Nghe An (Vinh - Nghe An)
Hanoi T&T (Hanoi)
SHB Da Nang (Da Nang)
The Vissai Ninh Binh (Ninh Binh)
TDCS Dong Thap (Cao Lanh - Dong Thap)
Thanh Hoa (Thanh Hoa)
Becamex Binh Duong (Thu Dau Mot - Binh Duong)
Navibank Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Hoang Anh Gia Lai (Pleiku - Gia Lai)
Hoa Phat Ha Noi (Hanoi)
Khatoco Khanh Hoa (Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa)
Vicem Hai Phong (Hai Phong)
Dong Tam Long An (Tan An - Long An)
Hanoi ACB (Hanoi)

First Division 2011

Sai Gon Xuan Thanh (Ho Chi Minh City)
Kienlongbank Kien Giang (Rach Gia - Kien Giang)
SQC Binh Dinh (Quy Nhon - Binh Dinh)
Than Quang Ninh (Ha Long - Quang Ninh)
An Giang (Long Xuyen - An Giang)
Dong Nai (Bien Hoa - Dong Nai)
XSKT Can Tho (Can Tho)
Ha Noi FC (Ha Noi)
BHTS Quang Nam (Tam Ky - Quang Nam)
TDC Binh Duong (Thu Dau Mot - Binh Duong)
Ho Chi Minh City FC (Ho Chi Minh City)
Fico Tay Ninh (Tay Ninh)
Mikado Nam Dinh (Nam Dinh)
Huda Hue (Hue)

Second Division 2011: 18 teams are divided into 3 groups by region.

Group A:
SHB Da Nang Youth Team (Da Nang)
Megastar United (Ha Dong - Ha Noi)
Phadin Quang Ngai (Quang Ngai)
Phu Yen (Tuy Hoa - Phu Yen)
Ha Tinh (Ha Tinh)
Cong An Nhan Dan (Ha Dong - Ha Noi)

Group B:
T&T V&V (Tuy Hoa - Phu Yen)
Lam Dong (Da Lat - Lam Dong)
DIC Ba Ria Vung Tau (Vung Tau)
Binh Thuan (Phan Thiet - BInh Thuan)
Duoc Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Dak Lak (Buon Ma Thuot - Dak Lak)

Group C:
Sai Gon Youth (Ho Chi Minh City)
Tien Giang (My Tho - Tien Giang)
Ca Mau (Ca Mau)
Dong Tam Window Long An (Tan An - Long An)
Binh Phuoc (Dong Xoai - Binh Phuoc)
Thep Mien Nam Ho Chi Minh City (My Tho - Tien Giang)

Third Division 2011: Free to register. There are 12 teams this year, devided into 2 groups by region.

Group A:
Ha Noi T&T (C Team) (Hanoi)
Hoa Phat Ha Noi (B Team) (Hanoi)
Khatoco Khanh Hoa (B Team) (Khanh Hoa)
Kon Tum (Kon Tum)
Nam Dinh (B Team) (Nam Dinh)
Phu Yen (B Team) (Phu Yen)

Group B:
Ba Ria Vung Tau (B Team) (Vung Tau)
Binh Duong (C Team) (Binh Duong)
Can Tho (B Team) (Can Tho)
Dong Nai (B Team) (Dong Nai)
Long An (C Team) (Long An)
Vinh Long (Vinh Long)

Hanoi T&T signs Lucas Cantoro

Although V-League 2011 has just ended lately, transfer market has seen the first shot from Hanoi T&T as the former champions are reported to have completed the signing of Argentine striker Lucas Cantoro from relegated Hanoi ACB. Cantoro, who scored 16 goals last season, spent most of his career playing in Italia before moving to Vietnam .

Navibank Saigon won National Cup

Navibank Saigon won the first title in its history as they beat V-League champions SLNA 3-0 this afternoon in the final of National Cup. As a result, they earned a place in AFC Cup 2012.

Two friendly tournaments for Vietnam U23

Just like every year...

Ho Chi Minh City Football Tournament: September 20th - 24th.
Vietnam U23, Singapore U23, Syria U23 and South Korea University Team.

VFF Cup: October, 19th - 23rd.
Vietnam U23, Thailand U23, Indonesia U23, Malaysia U23.

Thanhnien Newspaper International U21 Football Tournament

The annual U21 tournament will kick off in Pleiku on September, 25th.

Group A: Vietnam U21, Malaysia U21, Aspire Academy (Qatar).
Group B: Iran U21, Thailand U21, Singapore U21.

All-time V-League top scorer updated

This table includes players who have scored 30+ goals in V-League (2000-2011).

last updated on August 23, 2011. Latest update here.

in bracket (.): goals last season

Rank	Name	Nationality	Goals
1	Antonio Carlos	BRAZIL	79 (9)
2	Le Cong Vinh	VIETNAM	74 (10)
3	Jose Emidio Almeida	BRAZIL	68 (6)
4	Huynh Kesley (Kesley Alves)	VIETNAM BRAZIL	62
5	Elenildo de Jesus	BRAZIL	60
6	Gaston Merlo	ARGENTINA	56 (22)
7	Philani Kubheka	SOUTH AFRICA	55 (9)
8	Amaobi Honest	NIGERIA	53
9	Evaldo	BRAZIL	47 (20)
10	Samson Kayode	NIGERIA	43 (17)
11	Nguyen Quang Hai	VIETNAM	41 (5)
12	Timothy Anjembe	NIGERIA	41 (16)
13	Emeka Achilefu	NIGERIA	40
14	Tshamala Kabanga	CONGO DR	40
15	Leandro Luz	BRAZIL	40 (10)
16	Kiatisuk Senamuang	THAILAND	38
17	Jonathan Quartey	GHANA	38 (4)
18	Julien Nsengiyumva	RWANDA	36
19	Nguyen Viet Thang	VIETNAM	35 (7)
20	Hoang Dinh Tung	VIETNAM	35 (10)
21	Nguyen Minh Phuong	VIETNAM	34 (2)
22	Pham Van Quyen	VIETNAM	33
23	Agostinho	BRAZIL	32 (9)
24	Nguyen Anh Duc	VIETNAM	31 (5)

First Division 2011 Summary

Champions: Saigon Xuan Thanh
Promoted to V-League: Saigon Xuan Thanh, Kienlongbank Kien Giang

Relegated: Nam Dinh, Hue.

Top scorer: Christian Jose Amougou Nsi (Saigon Xuan Thanh - 17 goals).

Average attendance: 2,285

Newly promoted team to First Division 2012: SHB Da Nang Youth, Lam Dong.

V-League 2011 Summary

Champions: Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA)
Runners-up: Hanoi T&T

Relegated: Hanoi ACB, DT Long An.

Top scorer: Gaston Merlo (SHB Da Nang - 22 goals).

Average attendance: 7,395
Highest average attendance: Vicem Hai Phong (17,154)
Lowest average attendance: Hanoi ACB (1,642)

Best signings of season: Lucas Cantoro (Hanoi ACB), Pape Omar Faye (Thanh Hoa), Nguyen Van Quyet (Hanoi T&T).

Newly promoted team to V-League 2012: Saigon Xuan Thanh, Kien Giang.

V-League 2012 will start in December, 2011.

Merlo is top scorer

Argentine striker Sebastian Gaston Merlo scored 22 goals for SHB Da Nang this season. This brilliant record helped him become V-League top scorer for the third consecutive time. HAGL's Evaldo is runner-up with 20 goals while Samson Kayode, who recently signed for Atletico Madrid, came third with 17 goals.

SLNA won V-League 2011

A 1-1 home draw with title rival Ha Noi T&T is enough for SLNA to be the new champions of V-League.

More Jamaicans to V-League?

A transfer story on Skysports about Jamaican international Keammar Daley, who's likely to join English League 1 side Preston North End . Apparently, an unknown Vietnamese club made a late bid for him.

There are currently 3 Jamaican players in V-League, playing for league leaders SLNA. They're Kavin Bryan, Andre Fagan and Devon Hodges. Bryan and Hodges are members of national team. The first Jamaican playing in Vietnam is Nicholas Addlery, in 2006.

HAGL sign 2-year contract with Jerry Santos

http://www.michezoafrika.com/harambee%20stars/jerry-santos-lands-a-two-year-offer-in-vietnam/2678.aspx

After attending two weeks’ trials in July, Kenyan international midfielder Jerry Santos impressed the Vietnamese top league club officials at HAGL and has landed a two year offer to play in the V-League.The talented Simba SC midfielder will however wait until end on November when his contract at Simba expires before joining compatriot Allan Wanga in his new club.

Which players can follow in Samson's steps?

With Samson Kayode's move to Atletico Madrid, V-League has proved to be not only a place for making money but also a launching pad for young talents. The Nigerian striker can be an outstanding example as he had played and trained in Vietnam since a teenager. Let's see which else players can move to a bigger pool in future after establishing himself in Vietnam.

1 - Christian Amougou Nsi: The promising Cameroonian striker came to Vietnamese club Dong Thap in 2009 when he was 20. After impressing for Than Quang Ninh in the following season, he moved to Sai Gon Xuan Thanh early this year and is currently leading top scorer chart in the First Division with 17 goals.

2 - Sunday Emmanuel: Joining Thanh Hoa this season, the young Nigerian has earned a regular starting place. Pacey and hard-working, he can play well as winger and forward. Only 20 years old, he can progress a lot in the future.

3 - Gaston Merlo: Labelled as on of the best players in V-League, Da Nang's hitman is heading for top scorer award for the third consecutive time, a new record of V-League. Now 26, he can think of some bigger challenges. My site has recorded some searches about him from the Gulf for some months. The coach of Bahrani club Al-Riffa also showed his interest in the Argentine after witnessing him score 3 goals against his side in AFC Cup.

4 - Ganiyu Oseni: Winning 2007 U-17 World Cup with Nigeria, he is now playing for First Division side Kien Giang. He has hit 9 goals for his club this season.

5 - Nguyen Van Quyet: It's more difficult for a Vietnamese player to move abroad as there are so many tempting offers from domestic clubs to keep him stay. Emerging as one of hottest prospects of Vietnamese football, the 20-year-old midfielder is a first-team player of Hanoi T&T and Vietnam national team.

6 - Timothy Anjembe: Winning top scorer of Nigerian Premier League before coming to Vietnam, Anjembe is considered one of most dangerous strikers in V-league. I always believe he is good enough to play in some average European leagues.

There are also a bunch of African teenagers in the league such as Ntambi Kirizestom (Navibank Saigon - born 1992 - Uganda U20), Joseph Ochaya (Navibank Saigon - born 1994 -Uganda U20), Ibrahim Juma (Saigon Xuan Thanh - born 1992 - Uganda national team), Moses Oloya (Saigon Xuan Thanh - born 1992 - Uganda U23). They all can develop into quality players like Samson Kayode. Let's wait and see.

Dong Thap's Samson Kayode joins Atletico Madrid

According to Marca, Spanish club Atletico Madrid has secured the service of Nigerian striker Samson Kayode Olaleye on free transfer. The 22-year-old spent 4 years playing for Vietnamese clubs, most notable for Dong Thap, where he scored 17 goals this season. Samson traveled to Vietnam at 18 and first played for Than Quang Ninh FC.

However, Samson Kayode will not play for the Madrid-based club right away but was loaned out to Portuguese side Sporting Braga.

Hanoi ACB relegated

Hanoi ACB has failed to stay at V-League next season after losing 2-3 to league leader SLNA this afternoon. Meanwhile, the title race will be decided at Vinh stadium next week when SLNA meets Hanoi T&T in the final of the season. A victory will help the Hanoi club retain its title while just a point is enough for home side to celebrate its first championship since 2000.

Japan - Vietnam friendly in October

Vietnam has accepted a friendly invitation from Asian Cup 2011 champions Japan. The game will be played in Kobe city on October 7th.

Vietnamese-Russian goalie with Vietnam U19

More pics here.

His name is Dang Lam, born 1993. He trained with Sparta Moskva and Dynamo Kiev some years ago. The young goalkeeper is now playing for Vietnamese club HAGL.

Udo Forturne on trial with Binh Duong

Nigerian striker Udo Fortune, who is top scorer of Indonesian Premier Division 2010-2011, may sign for Binh Duong as he was seen training with the team this week. The 23-year-old player came to Southeast Asia 5 years ago and had played for several clubs in the region including Sporting Afrique FC, Thessenson Khalsa FC, Balestier Khalsa FC (Singapore), Negeri Sembilan FA (Malaysia), Arema Malang, Persikab Bandung and Persiba Bantul (Indonesia).

DT Long An agree Danny David transfer

DT Long An is reported to have agreed to sell Tanzania international Danny David to league rival HAGL for US$150,000. DT Long An is fighting at the bottom of table at the moment. Early this season, they let two key members, Nguyen Minh Phuong an Phan Van Tai Em, to leave the club. Another important player, Antonio Carlos, is likely to move at the end of season.

Samson Kayode to move

Nigerian striker Samson Kayode will not stay at Dong thap next season as his contract is running out at the the end of August. A number of Vietnamese clubs are reported to trail the 23-year-old striker, who scored 17 goals in V-League 2011 before being sidelined due to injury last week.

Who will be champions?

Only 2 rounds left.

1 - SLNA MP:24 GD:+18 Points:45
2 - Ha Noi T&T MP:23 GD:+20 Points:42
3 - SHB Da Nang MP:24 GD:+17 Points:42

Next fixtures:

SLNA:
Hanoi ACB v SLNA
SLNA v Hanoi T&T

Ha Noi T&T:
Khanh Hoa v Hanoi T&T
Hanoi T&T v Vicem Hai Phong
SLNA v Hanoi T&T

SHB Da Nang:
Binh Duong v Da Nang
Da Nang v Navibank Saigon