U-19 Vietnamese footballers to train abroad

A player of the Vietnamese national U-19 team is fighting for the ball with an Australian player on October 7,
2013 in Malaysia (Tuoi Tre)

The cost of the trip is covered by Hoang Anh Gia Lai – Arsenal JMG academy,based in Gia Lai Province in the central highlands, said Doan Nguyen Duc, chairman of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group and the football school.

“We have set up plans and contacted partners for the training trip. Arsenal FC has initially agreed with our plan,” said Duc.

Players from Duc’s academy make up the majority of the Vietnamese national U-19 team, including nine starters in the 5-1 victory over Australia last week.

Friendly matches with Arsenal academies in Europe and Africa have been planned, as well international invitation tournaments.

This will be the longest training trip abroad of Hoang Anh Gia Lai – Arsenal JMG academy. Previous trips lasted no more than 45 days.

Chairman Duc added that he is willing to cover all costs for players of the U-19 team who are not trained at his academy to attend the trip if Vietnam’s football governing body, VFF, wishes him to do so.

The extra cost is almost nothing compared to what he invested in his academy in the last six years, Duc added.

“We are willing to help if it means the further development and success of Vietnamese football,” he confirmed.

All 16 national teams to partake in the Asian U-20 Football Championship next year in Myanmar have been selected, including Vietnam, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Oman, Indonesia, North Korea, Japan, Australia, China, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Yemen, and the host Myanmar. They will be drawn in four groups to compete in September of next year in two cities, Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw. The four group leaders will advance to the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand in 2015.