Viet Nam to play friendly against Japan

Viet Nam's national team coach Falko Goetz has named a 21-man squad for a friendly match against Japan in Kobe on October 7.

The team includes top strikers Le Cong Vinh, Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Ngoc Thanh and Hoang Dinh Tung along with maestro Pham Thanh Luong and target man Nguyen Minh Chau.

The 49-year-old German coach has also included three goalkeepers, seven defenders and seven midfielders for the tough test.

It's the first time that Viet Nam have been invited to compete against Japan in an official friendly, a warm up opportunity for Japan in preparation for the third stage of the 2014 World Cup Asian Zone qualifiers.

Ha Noi international futsal event to kick off

During the event, hosts Viet Nam, defending their title, are set to compete against Qatar, China and Uzbekistan.

The Viet Nam Football Federation selected 20 players for a training session at HCM City's Thanh Long Sports Centre.

The three-day event will give Viet Nam a chance to hone their skills for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia this November while serving as a qualifier for the 2012 Asian Futsal Championship set to take place from November 26 to December 1.

VFF to meet football team chairmen

The Viet Nam Football Federation will host a meeting with the chairmen of 28 football clubs in Ha Noi tomorrow, Sep 29, the federation said yesterday.

It's will be the first official discussion between the country's football governing body and team bosses since the V-League made its debut in 2001.

The meeting is aimed at promoting the top-flight league in Viet Nam as well as improving the quality of domestic football.

Finalists face off at VCCI Challenge Series

Dam Thanh Vinh won the fourth and final qualifying round for the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Challenge Series at Hai Phong City's Song Gia Golf and Country Club on Sunday.

Vinh finished with a round of 72 and qualified for the final round of the VCCI Challenge Series with four other.

Tran Tri Duc won the A Division, while Nguyen Ba Duong and Nguyen Tran Lanh won the B Division and the Callaway Division, respectively.

Ta Thi Phuong Loan came first in the Ladies Division.

A total of 20 golfers from four qualifying rounds will be competing in the final round at Heron Lake Golf Club in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on October 9.

Phuc appointed as national U-19 coach

Coach Hoang Van Phuc has been appointed head coach of the national U-19 team.

The former national U-16 team coach replaced Trieu Quang Ha who resigned to coach V-League side Thanh Hoa.

Phuc added goalies Nguyen Ngoc Bao of Ha Noi T&T and Pham Van Phong of Hoa Phat Ha Noi, centre Nguyen Thanh Long of Hoa Phat Ha Noi, half-back Huynh Tan Tai of Dong Tam Long An and striker Nguyen Phung Que of Song Lam Nghe An to the team.

As planned, the U-19's will head to Cambodia to take part in the International U-21 Football Tournament (BIDC Cup) scheduled to be held in Phnom Penh on October 8-16.

Viet Nam is set to compete against other Group A teams including Thailand and China's Wuhan Hongxing FC with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar making up Group B.

At the event, the team will aim to qualify for the Asian U-19 Football Championship to take place in HCM City from October 31 to November 8.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News