VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) this year does not offer a reward for the national football squad at the AFF Cup 2012.



Previously, VFF always offered a reward before significant football tournaments in an attempt to stimulate the spirit of Vietnamese players.

Most recently, at the 26th Southeast Asian Games, the bonus for the team was up to nearly $1 million. But Coach Falko Goetz and his players could not win even the bronze medal.

The U23 Vietnam team's failure was blamed on many reasons and the huge reward was alleged to make great psychological pressure on the team.

Bonus always comes with pressure and the VFF received "consequences" from the habit of offering reward in advance. At the SEA Games 2005, before a game, key players of the U23 Vietnam team even bargained with VFF’s Secretary General Tran Quoc Tuan. They asked Tuan to disclose the specific bonus for a win.

At SEA Games 2005, U23 Vietnam won the silver medal, but this is the silver medal that should be forgotten. Only a few days after returning from the Philippines, seven players were discovered to be involved in match fixing.

"Playing for the national team is the responsibility and honor of every player. There will have bonus but we will not promise to give bonus for the national team at the upcoming AFF Cup 2012," VFF Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy said.

No reward but Hy said that the team will be taken care very carefully, in terms of accommodations and food.

AFF Cup 2012 is the first regional tournament that the national team is officially led by a Vietnamese coach - Phan Thanh Hung.

The team recently had several friendly matches, with positive results. Thanks to its victories over Malaysia, Hong Kong and Laos, Vietnam has claimed to the first place in Southeast Asia in the latest FIFA rankings.

According to Hy, “Phan Thanh Hung is the right choice, from the first positive results."

No reward, VFF does not set a specific target for the team also. VFF President confirmed, the objective of Vietnam in AFF Cup 2012 is the highest possible position.

Compiled by S. Tung