HCM CITY (VNS) — The Asian Football Confederation's representative, following a visit this week, was impressed with Vietnamese football clubs and their facilities, but noted that he could not confirm whether the clubs would be promoted to the AFC Champions League.

Maksat Glychmamedov, AFC's development manager, spoke with the press yesterday after an AFC mission finished its inspection of 14 clubs that play in the V-League.

The inspections assessed facilities and checked all criteria required to participate in the AFC Champions League 2013-14 season.

"The general impression is positive. We noticed that the clubs want to improve, and they're doing a good job. It appears they are making some positive changes for the upcoming season," Glychmamedov said.

He said that, while Viet Nam had quite a few good stadiums, other criteria were even more important than stadiums or training grounds.

"We also look at club personnel, certain documentation, guarantees, finances, the youth-development programme, coaching qualifications and so on. We have received this information about Vietnamese clubs, but the decision will be made by the AFC Committee at the end of November," he said.

Glychmamedov said that only coaches with the AFC's A licence or an equivalent qualification would be eligible to lead teams in the AFC Champions League.

Viet Nam had clubs in each season of the AFC Champions League from 2004 to 2008, but after a poor run of results, the country lost its places in the league. — VNS