VietNamNet Bridge – V-League football team Hoang Anh Gia Lai will recruit the first graduates to emerge from a training course at the Hoang Anh Gia Lai-Arsenal-JMG Academy over the next three years.

The US$4 million football academy in co-operation with English Premier League club Arsenal, began its first course for under-12 year olds three years ago.

They have been undergoing professional football training and regular schooling under the seven-year scholarship programme that is aimed at creating top international players.

"They will be the first players to graduate from our academy. They receive full time football training and education to help them prepare to play professionally in Viet Nam or elsewhere in Asia, Europe or even England," deputy director of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Sports Stock Company Tran Van Minh said last Friday.

"We'll sign professional contracts with them by 2014 when they are 17 years old. They can play for Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the V-League or transfer to another team in Southeast Asia or Asia," Minh said.

He also added that coaches from Arsenal had said that two of the first intake of students were good enough to play in Europe.

The academy enrolled 10 young hopefuls on the second course last year.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News