Yesterday's draw for the final round of the National U21 Football Championship in the southern province of Can Tho, will create exciting combinations for the eight qualifying teams.

Group A includes the hosts Can Tho, Dong Thap, Sanna Khanh Hoa and SHB Da Nang, while defending champions Ha Noi T&T are with Vinh Long, Song Lam Nghe An and Hoang Anh Gia Lai in Group B.

The teams will play a single round robin schedule, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-final of the tournament, being sponsored by the Thanh Nien newspaper.

Nguyen Cong Khe, head of the tournament's organising board, said in a press conference yesterday that the event would be very attractive because it brings together the best teams of Vietnamese youth football.

Football expert Vu Tien Thanh, who coached HCM City's U21, said, "Every year, we expect to discover young talents in this tournament. This is a traditional event which introduces many outstanding players for the national team."

The coaches of the eight teams have confirmed that the annual tournament produces new talents for Vietnamese football. A majority of the Olympic players and national players in Viet Nam have emerged from this tournament. So any player who plays well here will get a chance to become a famous footballer.

"I have trained junior players for many years. I have seen that they want to participate in this event to become well-known players," said SHB Da Nang's coach Phan Cong Thin.

"We will follow this event very closely to choose players for the V-League. Players know the event is an important step for us, so they will play very well," said coach Phan Thanh Hung of Ha Noi T&T.

Hosts Can Tho will take on Khanh Hoa in the opener today, while Dong Thap play Da Nang later.

VNS/VNN