Viettel expects its club to participate in the national premier V.League 1 in 2018. — Photo zing

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Viettel Sports Centre is in the process of setting up a football academy in collaboration with European giant Borussia Dortmund.

The two sides have met and discussed the initial steps that need to be taken for the project. "After carefully checking out different clubs in Europe, we chose the sports club model suggested by Borussia Dortmund, said Major-General Hoang Cong Vinh, deputy managing director of the Viettel Group.

"Our target is to build a strong foundation before we develop an elite football club in the future," he said.

The military unit is home to young players belonging to different age groups, ranging from U11 to U19. They are mainly coached by former national team players, including captain Nguyen Hong Son, striker Dang Phuong Nam and midfielder Nguyen Hai Bien.

The newly-built centre in the Thach That District, Ha Noi, will be used as Viettel FC's training and accommodation complex in the near future.

Viettel expects its club to participate in the national premier V.League 1 in 2018.

The new joint-venture between Viettel and Borrusia Dortmund shall take on the successful tie-up between Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Arsenal JMG, a member of the JMG Global, which produces one of Viet Nam's budding footballers Nguyen Cong Phuong. — VNS