Women's team targets Olympics

Focused: Members of the national women's football team train at Tam Dao Sports Centre in the northern province of Vinh Phuc. — VNS Photo Quang Thang

HA NOI — The women's football team would put aside its disappointment at not being able to defend its title at the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia and focus on the FIFA Women's Olympic Football Tournament 2012 qualifying campaign next month, Chinese coach Chen Yun Fat said.

The Indonesian organising committee has announced that female football will not be played at the Southeast Asian Games this year.

Viet Nam Olympic Committee general secretary Hoang Vinh Giang said it would be difficult to change the committee's decision.

Chen said: "At present, the team are training their physical strength at Tam Dao Sports Centre in the northern province of Vinh Phuc where the weather is very severe. It rains all day and is very cold.

"We always define that we must try our best against any rival at any tournament."

Chen also revealed that six young talented footballers had been added to the team and that the FIFA qualifiers tournament would hone their skills and experience.

The Asian Zone qualifiers start in March having three phases until September to determine the two teams that will represent Asia.

Viet Nam is in group A of the draw, which comprises Thailand, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Myanmar.

Group A and seven other teams from groups B and C – India, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Iran, Palestine and Jordan – will take part in the inaugural phase of qualification that kicks off on March 8 and winds up on March 27. — VNS

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T&T set for Da Nang showdown

Comeback: Top striker Le Cong Vinh (right) of Ha Noi T&T will be back in action after a prolonged injury. — VNS Photo Quang Thang

HA NOI — The national football league resumes play today after a three-week Tet holiday break with a match between defending champions Ha Noi T&T and SHB Da Nang in the capital city.

The match is considered entrepreneur Do Quang Hien's own personal derby, as the businessman owns both teams.

The winner of the game will receive a huge bonus from Hien, who has urged both teams to compete in the spirit of fair play.

This is only the third season that Ha Noi T&T have been completing in the V-League- Eximbank Cup, but they have always won against Da Nang when playing at home.

In addition, Ha Noi T&T are in high spirits following victories in the first two matches of the season. They currently top the table, while Da Nang stand sixth following a victory and a loss.

Ha Noi T&T's fire power received a substantial boost today with the news that top national team striker Le Cong Vinh will be in the line up for the match, his first match after an injury eight months ago.

Vinh said he was very keen to get back into action.

"I have totally recovered and feel very strong," he said. "I hope I can play with the same skill as before my injury."

Vinh's return is a major boost for the team, which is seeking to extend its lead in the league.

Coach Phan Thanh Hung revealed that he added Vinh to the list of substitutes for today's game, and the striker will be allowed to play if he is needed.

"It is possible that Vinh will come off the bench," said Hung. "I will give him a chance to compete but it is not good for him if he is forced to play too much."

Apart from Vinh, T&T are also welcoming back former national player Thach Bao Khanh, who was rested for a month due to an ankle injury. Khanh, who joins the club from Thanh Hoa, is a tough midfielder and will make Hung's line-up more solid.

Former champs Da Nang also boast a strong line up. In preparation for the season, coach Le Huynh Duc has brought home several top players, including former national team captain Nguyen Minh Phuong.

Phuong will be a key player during the match, along with Argentinean Gaston Merlo who was the top goal scorer during the last two seasons and has scored twice already this season.

Duc and his players travelled to Ha Noi on Wednesday to familiarise themselves with the capital city's cold.

In the other matches tomorrow, Ha Noi ACB will play Hoang Anh Gia Lai at Hang Day; Vicem Hai Phong will face Dong Thap at Hai Phong's Lach Tray Stadium; hosts Ninh Binh will meet former champions Dong Tam Long An in Ninh Binh Province; Lam Son Thanh Hoa will clash with Navibank Sai Gon at Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City; two-time winner Becamex Binh Duong host dark horses Khatoco Khanh Hoa at Go Dau, and in Vinh, Song Lam Nghe An welcome Hoa Phat Ha Noi. — VNS

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$3,500 compensation for lightning-hit footballer

Referee (R) and players of Nguyen Hoang Kien Giang and Vinh Long react after the lightning when the match is going on on May 2, 2008 on Vinh Long Stadium

Former Second Division footballer Tran Thanh Truong, who was struck by lightning while playing a match in 2008 and has become partially paralyzed, will get a compensation of just VND69 million (US$3,450), authorities announced yesterday.

The 29-year-old has been paid $2,000 by the Kien Giang Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the remaining $1,450 will be paid by the football association, the Department’s vice director Vo Dong Lap said Wednesday.

However, Truong did not get his salary for the period left in his contract or insurance after the accident that took place in May 2008 when his team, Nguyen Hoang Kien Giang, were playing Vinh Long.

After being hit by a bolt, he became unconscious and his heart stopped briefly. Doctors diagnosed him with brain damage and partial paralysis and loss of speech.

Circular 34/2007 stipulates that the government should cover treatment costs through social and medical insurance if a sportsperson is injured during training or competition.

Besides, the victim should also be paid full salary during the period of treatment.

 

Tran Thanh Truong of Nguyen Hoang Kien Giang and Du Thien Chuong of Vinh Long FC are given medical support on Vinh Long Stadium on May 2, 2008 after being struck by lightning

His labor contract with Nguyen Hoang Kien Giang had five months to run after the accident but he did not get his wages.

His mother had to feed him for almost two years until he got better but he continues to live off his family’s savings and donations from colleagues and sponsors.

Now, he can walk by himself but has almost lost his memory that he is again learning from text books meant for six-year-old children.

Du Thien Chuong of Vinh Long FC was also injured in the lightning strike but he has fully recovered.

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Architectural heritage crumbles

Historic buildings in two
localities that functioned as commercial port towns during the Nguyen
dynasty are in a severely dilapidated condition.

The Bao Vinh town, which hosted a busy port in 18th century, had 39 old buildings standing at the end of the American War.

Meanwhile, Gia Hoi, a bustling port town in early 19th century, had 140
old buildings featuring traditional Vietnamese, Chinese as well as
French colonial architecture.

These buildings have been so
badly damaged by the rampant urbanisation of last two decades, that
only 15 of them still stand in Bao Vinh, while Gia Hoi has 55.

Residents complain that they are caught in a bind. On the one hand,
they cannot repair their houses to make them safe or expand it to meet
their needs because authorities have banned such actions. On the other
hand, the authorities themselves have taken no action to preserve the
old buildings.

"Many old houses in Bao Vinh are in ruin
and vulnerable to floods and hard weather," said Nguyen Van Bon,
chairman of Huong Vinh commune.

A conservation project to
protect the two towns was set up by Thua Thien Hue province in 2003, but
only three houses were repaired with funds from the French Parliament.
In Gia Hoi, one pagoda had its gate and entrance restored.

Experts have called on authorities to act before it is too late.

"Architecture reflects history, so there is a need to protect Bao Vinh
and Gia Hoi. Authorities should promptly come up with ways to deal with
the conflict between conservation and locals' benefits," said Nguyen
Viet Tien, chairman of the province's Planning Association.

Nguyen Xuan Hoa, former director of the province's Culture Department,
said it was not possible to restore Bao Vinh as an old town because not
many old house remained in it.

"But Gia Hoi has unique
architectural values with a national-heritage pagoda, a Hindu temple,
the house of a Japanese karate master, overseas Chinese club house,
French colonial buildings and palaces of royal family members. It would
be interesting to restore the old town," he said./.

Vinh to make return from injury

Back on his feet: Striker Le Cong Vinh (left) trains with national teammates at Ha Noi's My Dinh National Stadium. He is set to return to action in the V-League this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Khanh

HA NOI — Top striker Le Cong Vinh is set to return to action in the next month, just two to three weeks after the V-League season kicks off.

The imminent return of the three-time Golden Ball winner is good news for his club, Ha Noi T&T, who are currently in pre-season training before they start the defence of their title.

Vinh was sidelined for nearly one year after rupturing his knee ligaments, and was unable to take part in his team's victory party last season.

Since returning home in October following surgery in Portugal, Vinh has been saying that being able to kick a ball around for just five minutes would bring him great happiness.

The Nghe An-born player has spent more than US$10,000 on the services of physio Luis Alberto in a bid to make a speedy recovery.

Vinh's return will come as a welcome boost to T&T, who spent a record transfer fee of nearly VND10 billion ($500,000) on him.

Despite only playing for part of the 2008-09 season, Vinh finished as top scorer with 14 goals.

Club chairman Nguyen Quoc Hoi said that the 2009-10 triumph was just the beginning.

He said apart from the domestic league, his He said apart from the domestic league, his team was targeting a berth in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup this year. — VNS

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Temple restoration wins prize

A project to restore a 17th century temple on the outskirts of Ha Noi,
which was carried out by architect Le Thanh Vinh, won the highest prize
in the heritage preservation category at the International Union of
Architects event in Xi'an, China.

This is the first time Vietnamese architects have won an international architecture prize for restoration work.

The project beat out 33 entries from 14 countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Chu Quyen Temple , which is commonly known as Chang Temple ,
in Hanoi 's Ba Vi district was primarily built with wood by the end
of 17th century.

The temple was recognised as a
national historic heritage site in 1962. Restoration on the temple began
in 2005 and was completed earlier this year.

Various modern techniques were used to remove mould from the wooden pillars, Vinh said.

"While overseeing the restoration work, I noticed that we didn't have
enough professional restorers," said Vinh. "We cannot restore a relic in
a rush without taking the proper precautions. There are only a few
experts who can handle such a task."

Vinh said the
country needs to begin training more restoration workers, who are
experts in architecture, construction, culture and history.

Deputy Minister of Culture Tran Chien Thang said that the project
should serve as the standard that later restoration projects should
emulate./.

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Major works celebrating Hanoi’s birthday inaugurated

The inaugural ceremony for the upgraded Tung Van Pagoda in Vinh Phuc
province’s Vinh Tuong district and its two gemstone Buddha statues was
held on October 1 as one of the cultural events celebrating the 1,000 th
anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The statues of
the Buddha Shakyamuni and the Buddhist Bodhisattva were made from a
20-tonne blue stone block found in Van Chan district of the northern
mountainous Yen Bai province.

To celebrate the
event, many significant programmes have been implemented at the pagoda,
including exhibitions of Buddhist cultural calligraphy, village
paintings, a talk on the art of drinking tea and practices of Buddhist
rituals.

On the October 1 night, 5,000 candles
will be lighted up in the surrounding of the pagoda to worship for peace
world and happy people.

The Tung Van Pagoda is
the largest ancient pagoda in Vinh Tuong district which was built 327
years ago under the reign of Kinh Le Huy Tong. The pagoda was recognised
as a national cultural heritage in 1964.

Earlier
on September 30, the People’s Committees of Hanoi and Ninh Binh province
jointly held an art programme entitled “Hoa Lu-Thang Long-Hanoi” to
celebrate the capital city’s millennium anniversary./.

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Injury keeps Vietnam football star out of AFF Cup

A ligament injury will keep striker Le Cong Vinh out of football’s AFF Suzuki Cup

Photo: Tuoi Tre

A ligament injury will keep striker Le Cong Vinh out of football’s AFF Suzuki Cup to be held in Vietnam and Indonesia in December, the star told Tuoi Tre while undergoing treatment in Portugal.

How is your knee shaping up?

After the ligament surgery and two months of physiotherapy, I can just do simple exercises with the ball.

What did your surgeon say about the injury?

He said though my recovery is on track, it will take me six months from June to recover fully.

He also advised me to strictly follow the physiotherapy schedule.

I think my injury will get better as my surgeon Noronha has successfully treated many other footballers, including midfielder Anderson of Manchester United, ex-Chelsea midfielder Deco, and defender Pepe of Real Madrid.

So what do you think about the chances of you playing in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup?

Though I wish to play, my injury will prevent me from playing until the end of the first round. I don’t think I can play there after an eight-month layoff.

I think there will be better players for national team coach Calisto to choose in my place.

What has Calisto told you?

He just told me to closely follow my therapy schedule so that I can get better soon but did not indicate he will keep a spot for me in the team for the AFF Cup.

What do you think about the V-League title your team Hanoi T&T, have just won?

I think my team deserved it for the efforts we put in. We had targeted this top position since the beginning.

But it’s a pity I could not attend the award ceremony.

What do you think about the rumors that Navibank Sai Gon want to buy you for $1 million?

It is just hearsay. I have not met the team or anyone else for my transfer.

My contract with Hanoi T&T runs for another year. I have to do my best to repay the team for the money they have paid for treating my injury. I’ll only leave the team when they say they do not need me any more.

Le Cong Vinh, born in Nghe An Province, achieved recognition and fame while playing for his hometown from 2004 to 2008. In 2008, in a well-documented transfer saga, he turned down The Cong’s offer at the last minute to join Hanoi T&T at a then record transfer fee of around VND10 billion(US$513,000). In August 2009 Hanoi announced that Vinh would be joining Portugal’s Leixões Sport Club in a three-month loan deal. The deal was facilitated by Henrique Calisto, who was once Leixões' manager. Vinh is widely regarded as the best striker Vietnam has produced along with Le Huynh Duc, the first to play professionally overseas. Already at age 23, Vinh has won three Golden Balls (2004, 2006, 2007) given by the Vietnam Football Federation to the best player of the year. He and Duc are the only ones to have won it thrice. In 2009 Vinh ranked fifth on Goal.com's Top Ten Promising Youngsters in Asian Football. He holds the record for most goals scored in a single season by a Vietnamese player in the league. He is also the top Vietnamese goal-scorer in V-League history and second highest scorer behind Brazilian Antonio Carlos.

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