VietNamNet Bridge – Hoang Anh Gia Lai football club’s Chair, Doan Nguyen Duc, a famous businessman, has pledged bonus of VND11 billion ($500,000) for the championship of the Southeast Asian Games 2011.
This is the highest bonus of a businessman for the gold medal of men’s football at the SEA Games so far.

Duc made the statement during the visit of Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hoang Tuan Anh, to the Ham Rong Sports Center in Pleiku City, the headquarters of Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC on October 4. The national U23 team is drilling there to prepare for the SEA Games.

As the weather in Pleiku is not very good, the U23 squad will return to Hanoi on October 8 to participate in the VFF Cup before going to Indonesia for the SEA Games.

Other countries in the region are also urgent preparing for the event, which will take place in December.

Thailand has just finalized the selection of its national squad, with 30 players and appointed coach Prapon Pongpanich of Bangkok United FC as the chief coach and Vithoon Kijmongkolsak as assistant.

Malaysia’s U23 team has just convened under the instruction of coach Ong Kim Swee, with 21 players. The team will join the VFF Cup in Hanoi from October 19-23.

TA