The V-League last season sold a record number of tickets to matches, with matches attracting an average of 8,297 punters, the Viet Nam Football Federation's general secretary Tran Quoc Tuan said in a meeting yesterday.
The federation also praised the coaching of Phan Thanh Hung of Ha Noi T&T, who helped the Hanoian team win the premier league after a 12-year-wait.
Two-time champion Binh Duong, who were the top-scoring team with 48 goals, won the fair play award for the year.
The First Division's Ha Noi ACB were promoted to the V-League, while Nam Dinh were relegated after a poor season.
Argentine Gaston Merlo finished as top scorer, netting 19 times in 26 matches for Da Nang.
In the V-League games last season, there were 820 yellow and 44 red cards handed out.
Women's team face tough draw
Viet Nam's women's team have been drawn in Group A with Indonesia and Japan in the team sepak takraw event (rattan ball kicking) at the Asian Games next month.
In Group B, powerful Thailand will play against India, South Korea and China.
In the regu (squad of three) event, Viet Nam, China, Myanmar and Thailand will compete in a round robin format for the gold medal.
According to team coach Ha Tung Lap, Viet Nam will have a tough job defending the title they won in Doha four years ago.
The team is made up of Luu Thi Thanh, 29, Trinh Thu Ba and Nguyen Bich Thuy, who helped the team win two gold medals at previous games.
HCM City to host aerobics tourney
HCM City will host the Asian Sports Aerobic Championships from December 16-18, the national sports administration said.
The organisers said that 10 teams from China, Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia and the Philippines have registered to compete at the event.
Competitors will compete in the men's and women's singles, pairs, trios and groups of six.
Men's volleyballers debut at games
Viet Nam's men's volleyball team will compete for the first time at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China next month, the Viet Nam Volleyball Federation confirmed yesterday.
The 12-member squad will play in Group B with South Korea, Kazakhstan and India.
The team bagged a bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines in 2005 and a silver in Thailand in 2007.
Nghe An to build football academy
Song Lam Nghe An Football Club is planning to build a 1,000-ha youth academy, a team source said yesterday.
The team have sought co-operation with an English Premier League broker for future development.
According to general director of Song Lam Nghe An football stock company, Nguyen Hong Thanh, the broker will make a survey next month before a contract is signed.
Three years ago, Hoang Anh Gia Lai also constructed a football academy, Hoang Anh Gia Lai-JMG-Arsenal, with the co-operation of the Premier League's Arsenal. — VNS
