GIA LAI (VNS)—Nine 10-14 year olds have gained entry to the Hoang Anh Gia Lai-Arsenal-JMG Football Academy, four of them receiving seven-year contracts.

The intake was announced by Hoang Anh Gia Laid deputy managing director Tran Van Minh said yesterday the other five children were on year-by-year.

The course will begin on August 15.

"They will undergo tough training at the academy. It's the third intake since 2007," Minh said. "The 25 players from the first courses will finish in 2014 and 2016," he said, adding that the academy would be open to more candidates later this year.

Last December, four players from the academy were called up for a one-month training course with Arsenal's U18 squad.-VNS