VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on February 28 elected Ngo Le Bang as the new Secretary General, replacing Tran Quoc Tuan. However, the coach of the national football squad has not been named yet.


The former (right) and the newly-appointed VFF Secretary Generals.

Bang was selected after other candidates withdrew.

Pham Ngoc Vien withdrew because he was too busy with his current positions: General Director of the Vietnam Professional Football (VPF) Company and Vice Chair of VFF.

Phan Anh Tu also said that he had to focus on his current job as Secretary General of the Hanoi Football Federation and deputy director of the Hanoi Young Football Training Centre.

Duong Nghiep Khoi, who is Vice Secretary General of VFF, said he wanted to “give the chance” to others.

Finally, Bang was elected as the new Secretary General, with 15 ayes out of 17 votes. Bang assumed the post on February 28.

"With my experiences and relationships, I believe I will do well," said Bang. "Vietnamese football is facing changes and difficulties. I think I myself should change to be suitable with my present work. My foreign relations such as those with the Asian Football Confederation and ASEAN Football Federation are good," he added,

Regarding the vacant position of head coach of the national team, speaking at the meeting, Nguyen Sy Hien, chairman of the National Coach Council said voting for this position will be announced later.

"Finding a head coach for the national team is very important and a complicated process. We need to have more time to consider it. However, we still know we want a Vietnamese coach," said Hien.

Bang was trained overseas as a football player and a coach. He has had 40-year experience with football.

The former Secretary General Tran Quoc Tuan was paid VND13 million/month. Bang will receive VND25 million/month thanks to the new wage policy of VFF.

VFF’s Vice Chair Le Hung Dung said that the coach of the national team may be paid up to VND200 million ($10,000) a month. However, the new coach has not been named yet.

Brief biography of VFF Secretary General Ngo Le Bang:

Bang was born in 1955 in Hanoi.
1972-1977: Playing for the Hanoi High Command’s football squad.
1977-1982: Studying at the Sports University in former USSR, being trained as a coach.
1982-1985: Returning to the Hanoi High Command’s football squad as a player and then vice coach and chief coach.
1986-1990: lecturer at the Vynhempich Officer Training College in HCM City.
1991-2000: Interpreter for the Russian General Consulate in HCM City.
2000-2001: Interpreter for Da Nang FC.
2002-2005: Lecturer at the University of Sports and Physical Training, vice coach of U-18 and U22 national teams.
2005: Vice coach of Binh Duong FC.
2006: Interpreter of the Vietnam national football team.
2007: Acting coach of the national women’s football squad.

S. Tung