Freshmen: Ha Noi FC players seen in training. They will be the newcomers in V.League 1 next season. — Photo hanoifc.vn

HA NOI  (VNS) — As the only new comer of the V. League 1 tournament, Ha Noi FC are intensively preparing their team for the coming season.

The team managers have to say goodbye to some of their best players who played a key role in promoting the team up to the national premier league.

The trio, Do Hung Dung, Pham Duc Huy and Nguyen Quang Hai, were borrowed from Ha Noi T&T last season and after their loan-contract ended, they will return to their former team.

Ha Noi FC had wanted to buy them, but Ha Noi T&T refused, saying that they were themselves facing a shortage of players.

As a result, the team has planned to recruit more local and foreign players in recent weeks.

"We want to add five or six players who already have the experience of the V. League 1. Some who are testing at our club are not stars, but if they meet our requirements we will sign contracts with them," Ha Noi FC Chairman Nguyen Giang Dong said.

The chairman said that apart from those who have ended their contracts with their former clubs, such as midfielder Xuan Ngoc, defender Chu Khanh Thanh and striker Bui Van Ha, there are several players from Africa who also want to join his team.

In their return to the V. League 1, Ha Noi have to work on a new playing style, as they will have the right to compete with two foreigners in the line-up, which was totally different when compared to the V. League 2 (the lower division).

"There are many foreigners who have approached us but we have not found them suitable. We will keep an eye on them while we welcome the others," coach Nguyen Duc Thang, who wants a midfielder and a striker, said.

"We will be very careful in recruiting players who will strongly influence our results," he said.

Ha Noi FC will have several friendly matches to warm-up before a new season which will kick-off on February 20.

In their recent tie with Quang Ninh Coal on December 19, Ha Noi won 1-0 thanks to Dinh Hung's goal in Quang Ninh Province.

The two sides will meet again today at the Hang Day Stadium in Ha Noi. — VNS