Football 

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam will for the first time have an official seven-a-side football tournament for women. 

The Women’s Vietnam Premier League-Season 1, a seven-a-side football tournament to be known as the Thiên Khôi Cup, will be organised on November 9-17 featuring eight teams and many current and former national team players.

The WVPL-S1, announced in Hà Nội on November 5, is an initiative from VietFootball, a pioneer in the development of seven-a-side football movement. It is strongly supported by the local authorities, the Việt Nam Football Federation and title sponsor Thiên Khôi Group.

“WVPL-S1 will be the beginning of the seven-a-side football tournament system for women, which is expected to develop as strongly as the men's," said Phạm Ngọc Tuấn, VietFootball general director and head of the tournament's organising committee.

"We consider it the highest level playing ground for women and believe that it will inspire people to take part in the sport and promote women's football movement in the community.

"Our players will earn money while playing, while more and more supporters will pay attention to this sport and businesses would generously sign sponsorships," he said.

Teams will be divided into two groups, playing in round robin format. Two top teams of each group will advance to the quarter-finals at the VFF's Youth Football Centre.

The final match is scheduled on November 17 with a total prize bag of VNĐ2 billion (US$78,700) delivered to the winners, runners-up and outstanding individuals.

“The Thiên Khôi Cup contributes to creating a premise for developing the women's seven-a-side football movement. This is, in my opinion, a meaningful playground for not only women but also Việt Nam," said former national team player Bùi Thị Hiền Lương, head of Football Department at the Sports Authority of Việt Nam.

"I think that amateur sport is the basic foundation of elite sport. We are very happy to have pioneers as VietFootball, organising women's football tournaments to spread our passion. I hope there will be more sponsors and supporters for women's football."

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyễn Xuân Quỳnh, Thiên Khôi Group's head of Culture and Sports Department, said: “At Thiên Khôi, besides businesses, we always promote sports activities especially football.

"We believe that the WVPL-S1, Thiên Khôi Cup, is a good sign for women's football in Việt Nam. This is also our honour when accompanying VietFootball in its first tournament's edition." VNS