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Monday, 09/01/2017 11:06

Former champions to clash in V. League opener

Nguyen Cong Phuong in a match under Mito HollyHock’s jersey last year. He returns to be Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s lead striker this V.League season. — Photo mito-hollyhock.net
Viet Nam News

HA NOI — Two former champions SHB Da Nang and Hoang Anh Gia Lai meet in the opening match of the V. League today, each seeking to regain some lost glory.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s last V. League title was in 2004 while SHB Da Nang won their tournament in 2009.

The eyes of national fans will be on the match, which promises to be the highlight of the first round, as their beloved player Nguyen Cong Phuong is back in action here under Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s jersey after one year of competing in Japan.

His return is so hotly anticipated that the Viet Nam Television and the Viet Nam Professional Football Company, the manager of the tournament, have decided that at least seven matches, which include his team, will be aired live.

People are excitedly waiting to to see how Phuong has progressed after his training in Mito HollyHock FC in the J. League 2.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai coaching board hopes that Phuong’s comeback, the growth of other players after two years in the V. League since they were 19, and some selected foreign players will help the club stand up against the tournament’s leading teams. They are even thinking of vying for the championship title against candidates such as Ha Noi FC, FLC Thanh Hoa and Quang Ninh Coal.

“We have totally put our trust in him. He will be the leader on the front line,” said Nguyen Tan Anh, an official of the team.

"We are in a good mood and confident about the tournament. We are looking forward to a good result in the first match,” Phuong said.

There is another new name in the team’s line-up.

Halfback Mobi Fehr has signed a contract and is expected to fix Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s problem in the defence.

“He is a clever player who can read the match. We hope he can do well with our team,” the coach, Nguyen Quoc Tuan said.

“My young players have practiced well and have had a good result from a warm-up tournament ahead of the V. League. We cannot wait any longer for the competition to start,” Tuan said.

Coach Le Huynh Duc appreciated his rivals although his SHB Da Nang won three out of four meets between two sides in the previous seasons.

“Hoang Anh Gia Lai are much stronger this year because their players have grown up and are more experienced after two years competing in the V. League. Their playing style creates a lot of difficulties for any rival,” said Duc.

“They are a team of players who know each other very well as they grew up together. They have now improved their physique a lot together playing with quality foreigners. They will pose a big challenge,” he said.

The former national striker referred to forward Nguyen Van Toan and midfielder Vu Van Thanh who have been regular names on the national team recently.

Both of them were in the news in regional and continental football and sport websites after their outstanding performance at last month’s ASEAN Football Federation Cup.

After the first match, coach Duc has a problem on his hands with a spate of injuries to his side.

Key forward Vo Huy Toan has a broken arm, his best scorer Gaston Merlo, who has just received his Vietnamese citizenship, could not play due to a broken toe, Vo Hoang Quang had a knee problem, and all of them need between several weeks to months to recover.

Meanwhile, players who arrive in Da Nang this season such as Nguyen Van Thang, Phan Van Long, Vo Nhat Tan, Britez Ezezequiel David and Ha Duc Chinh have not made any impression in the V. League yet.

Despite these difficulties, former champions SHB Da Nang still want to regain their glory again this season.

“Last year we were unlucky to take the trophy. It will be a strong force pushing us ahead. We always seek the title but we set a humble target of top three and will do our best,” President Bui Xuan Hoa said.

Today, SHB Da Nang will play on a new ground at Hoa Xuan Stadium, leaving behind their old home at 63-year-old Chi Lang which was a ‘deadly ground’ for many rivals.

Hoa Xuan is a small venue with only 20,000 seats with the most advanced equipment.

Despite SHB Da Nang’s home turf, it will be the first time here for both sides. — VNS

 


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