Brazilian footballer Rodrigo Mota Farias of Vissai Ninh Binh was granted Vietnamese citizenship on Monday.

The 28-year-old has been one of the top foreign players at the club for the past five years, and has adopted the new name Dinh Van Ta.

"I am Vietnamese now and happy about that. It's given me an incentive to contribute more to the club," Ta said.

Two other Ninh Binh players have received Vietnamese citizenship: goalkeeper Dinh Hoang La and striker Dinh Hoang Max.-VNS