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 is also the top Vietnamese goal-scorer in V-League history and second highest scorer behind Brazilian Antonio Carlos. |
