This afternoon (February 21), the 2019 National Football Championship, V.League 1-2019, will officially kick off with the first-round opener between Thanh Hoa FC and Becamex Binh Duong at Thanh Hoa Stadium. According to experts, this season’s title and relegation race among the 14 clubs promises to be extremely fierce and full of thrills.

Hanoi FC players in action with a Becamex Binh Duong player during their 2018 National Super Cup match on February 16.

Reigning champions Hanoi FC are strongly expected to defend their crown this season. Manager Chu Dinh Nghiem’s side possess a lineup of quality players combining youth, power and experience, including Van Quyet, Thanh Luong, Duy Manh, Quang Hai, Van Hau and the two formidable strikers Oseni and Hoang Vu Samson. In the 2018 season, they were crowned the trophy holders with five games in hand, winning 20 matches, drawing four and losing just two, racking up 64 points, 18 points more than the runners-up Thanh Hoa. In general, Hanoi FC have put up reliable “blocking” points in all the defence, midfield and forward positions with a smooth and efficient playing style. They just won the 2018 National Super Cup a few days ago after making light work of Becamex Binh Duong with two unanswered goals. With a team of talented players who have been companions for years, the successful defence of their V.League title this season is quite within the reach of Chu Dinh Nghiem’s side.

Another strong contender for the 2019 V.League crown is Quang Ninh Coal FC. In recent years, manager Phan Thanh Hung’s team have always been among the top V.League finishers. In preparation for the 2019 season, alongside the pillars who continue to stick with the club, including Tuan Linh, Hong Quan, Hai Huy, Xuan Tu, Thanh Hao, and Nguyen Sa, Quang Ninh Coal have strengthened their forces, aiming to realise the ambition of “going farther” in the V.League and National Cup playgrounds, by recruiting midfielder Le Sy Minh (from Nam Dinh FC), foreigner Lastro Neven (who played at the 2018 Europa League) and two forwards Hermann (Ivory Coast) and Dieylani (Senegal). Fans hope that under the guidance of the experienced tactician Phan Thanh Hung, Quang Ninh Coal will play well in this year’s tournament and be the counterweight of the title favourites, contributing to making the race to the overall trophy more attractive.

In addition to the top candidates for the crown, some other potential contenders are also ready to create a stir in the 2019 V.League, namely reigning third-placed team Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN, National Cup holders Becamex Binh Duong, Song Lam Nghe An, Hai Phong FC and Quang Nam FC. These are all the potential teams with abundant V.League competing experience.

Viettel FC are also one of the names drawing public attention ahead of the 2019 V.League campaign. After booking their place in the country’s top-tier football league this season, Viettel have strengthened their forces by recruiting three popular faces, including Vu Minh Tuan, Que Ngoc Hai and Nguyen Trong Hoang. These timely supplements will help enhance power of positions in Viettel’s lineup making them strong enough to compete against any opponents. Fans are looking forward to the debut of newbies Viettel and its Republic of Korean manager Ly Hung-sin, 58, who formerly led Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, a very famous RoK football club with six K-League titles, three National Cup crowns, one National Super Cup trophy and two AFC Champions League titles.

The relegation race will see tense competition between Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Nam Dinh FC, Saigon FC, and Ho Chi Minh City FC. Speaking to the media recently, representatives of the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) affirmed that it will do its best to contribute to improving the quality of expertise in the tournament.

Nhan Dan