Together with Toyota: TMV General Director Yoshihisa Maruta (left) and VPF General Director Cao Van Chong (centre) at the signing ceremony. — Photo laodong.com.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Toyota Motor Viet Nam (TMV) yesterday decided to extend its sponsorship with the national premier league, the V League, for another year.

The TMV and the Viet Nam Professional Football Company (VPF) held the contract signing ceremony in Ha Noi, for an undisclosed funding amount.

The tournament will be the Toyota V. League 2016 under the new deal.

"With the belief and support of Toyota Motor Viet Nam for the second year in a row, we will do our best for the sustainable development of national football. We will also give stronger support to every club which is part of the professional football system in Viet Nam," VPF General Director Cao Van Chong said at a press briefing.

"In 2015, to contribute to the development of Viet Nam's football, we became the main sponsor of the V. League and the Toyota Mekong Club Championship. We hope that under our sponsorship, players will receive more opportunities to compete and improve their skills through regional and international competitions," TMV President Yoshihisa Maruta said while expressing his satisfaction with the previous championship, which saw an increasing number of spectators.

"This year, with a desire to contribute more to the nation, we continue to support the league and hope to push it to a higher level," Maruta said. "We record VPF's effort and will co-operate closely with them to present beautiful and competitive matches to local fans, who, we believe, would strongly back the tournament and players."

Toyota has backed different sports activities in Viet Nam for years.

The V. League will kick off on February 20 nationwide with 14 clubs competing in 182 matches through 26 rounds.

The winner will receive VND3 billion (US$133,000) while the runner-up pockets half that amount. — VNS