Strike force: The main character in the comic series Football Academy, inspired by Nguyen Cong Phuong of the U19 team

HCM CITY  (VNS) — A comic-book series, inspired by Viet Nam's Under 19 football team, will be released by Tre (Youth) Publishing House on October 6.

Titled, Hoc Vien Bong Da (Football Academy), the 10-issue series will be released over a five-month period. It is aimed at audiences eight years and up.

The series centres around a team of footballers training at the Arsenal JMG Academy based in Gia Lai Province narrating their losses and triumphs.

The main characters are based on key players from the U19 team.

The series also features the fictional Delia, daughter of French coach Gautier and his Vietnamese wife. Delia helps soften and diversify the largely male cast.

Bach Le, one of the artists directing the series, said he and his team of writers and artists spent time at the academy studying players' training times and everyday life to construct the characters.

According to Nguyen Minh Nhut, director of Tre Publishing House, the series doesn't simply praise the U19 players.

Rather, it tells stories about following one's passion and overcoming difficulties - topics that go beyond the football field and touch the everyday life of youths.

"When the players read the series, they will realise how their hard work is watched and appreciated. They will be motivated to always do their best," he said.

Doan Nguyen Duc, owner of the academy was happy about the series.

"My players are good role models and show a promising future for the country's football," he said. "They do not only play fair, but are also good men in real life."

"Footballers at the academy work hard," he said, "but I hope they will work even harder when they know how much they are loved by fans." — VNS