The Volleyball Federation of Viet Nam (VFV) plans to reduce the number of premier league teams from 12 to eight this June, General Secretary Tran Duc Phan said.

The number of teams in the lower First Division will increase to 16.

"The change will give junior players more opportunities to compete in the lower championship because they need more tough tests before competing in the premier league," Phan said.

"It means that all teams have to invest in training programmes for young players and send the best players to premier league teams," he added.

Among the 24 premier men's and women's league teams, only Military Signal Corps and Long An have their own junior training centres.

"Most teams have been struggling with fund raising for their main squads and they cannot cover the costs of young teams," Phan said.

The VFV has signed sponsorship contracts with nine of the best young volleyballers to train abroad at the end of this year. — VNS