VietNamNet Bridge – Viettel will battle fellow Group A teams including Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa and Ha Noi T&T during qualifying rounds of the National U-17 Football Championship held from May 25 to June 26.

Under pressure: The National Under-17 Football Championships' qualifiers will begin on Wednesday in various cities and provinces. At the final last year, SHB Da Nang defeated Song Lam Nghe An 1-0. (Photo: VNS)

The top team from each group will compete against defending champions SHB Da Nang and Khanh Hoa in the final round, hosted in the coastal city of Nha Trang from July 21-30.

The championship, which has been run by the Bong Da (Football) newspaper since 2006, offers young players an ideal opportunity to hone their skills.

Nghe An has managed to finish in the top position five times.

"The championship provides an important arena for junior players to boost their skills and experience, creating more opportunities for the future of Vietnamese football," Viet Nam Football Federation Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy said at a press conference yesterday where the event organising committee signed a sponsorship contract with Thai Son Nam.

"The tournament has produced some of the very best players for the national team," Hy added.

Current football stars including Le Cong Vinh, Phan Thanh Binh, Chau Phong Hoa and Doan Viet Cuong debuted at the junior tournament, making it to the top of the regional AFF Suzuki Cup in 2008.

Tournament champions will take home a cash prize of VND100 million (US$5,000), while second and third finalists will walk away with VND60 million ($3,000) and VND40 million ($2,000), respectively.

Additional awards will be presented for Best Player, Fair-Play, Best Goalkeeper and Top Scorer.

During last year's championship in Da Nang, SHB Da Nang edged out Nghe An by 1-0 in order to lift the trophy for the first time.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News