HA NOI – The police in the Ninh Binh Province on April 29 arrested goalkeeper Nguyen Manh Dung and midfielder Tran Manh Dung over charges of gambling.

The players of the Ninh Binh football club are considered to be the masterminds of an illegal VND1.02 billion, or US$48,600, gamble on a match between their team and the Malaysian side Kelantan during a group round of the Asian Football Confederation Cup last month.

Their team won 3-2 and the players pocketed VND800 million, or $38,000.

The cash was then distributed. The players who participated in the match received VND85 million, or $4,000, and the substitutes took home VND75 million, or $3,500. Around VND70 million, or $3,300, was given to two persons who were involved in the act but did not participate.

The two arrested players will be jailed for three months temporarily.

Midfielder Tran Manh Dung.

Outstanding players go astray

Tran Manh Dung (Tran) was one of the most outstanding players who had been trained in Nam Dinh.

The 24-year-old was considered to be a talented footballer. He quickly became a key member of all the teams that he played with.

Despite his 1.67m tall, the midfielder could play well in both low and high balls. He also had an amazing ability of managing the ball at high speed.

Tran was first called to the national U20 team at the age of 17 in 2007. Two years later, he became a member of the U23 squad where he was voted the deputy captain. His brilliant abilities helped him sign a record contract of VND12 billion, or $570,000, with Ninh Binh when he was 21 in 2011. The captain receives VND50 million per month as salary, exclusive of the bonuses received after every victory.

Tran scored for the national team on February 6 when Viet Nam lost 1-2 to the United Arab Emirates.

He was also the only Vietnamese to score a goal against European giant Arsenal in their friendly match last July at the My Dinh National Stadium.

Goalkeeper Nguyen Manh Dung.

The story of his teammate Nguyen Manh Dung (Nguyen) is different. He had to struggle a lot before his ability was recognised.

The Hai Phong City-born goalie played for many clubs and teams, including the national U19 in 1999-2000 and U23 in 2003, but was not able to make a mark with coaches and fans.

He won the trust of Hoa Phat Ha Noi's coach Vuong Tien Dung in 2006-07 and became the No 1 keeper of the team, and later of Thanh Hoa in 2010. Ninh Binh coaches and managers were impressed with Nguyen and signed a VND12 billion, or $570,000, contract with him. The keeper, who is also a successful businessman, played a key role in his team's National Cup and Super Cup triumphs in 2013. – VNS