As the COVID-19 control measures in Vietnam have gradually been eased, sports tournaments are expected to come back. Many football contests are planned to kick off in May.
As the COVID-19 control measures in Vietnam have gradually been eased, sports tournaments are expected to come back. Many football contests are planned to kick off in May.
The fact that COVID-19 situation is getting better in Viet Nam is good news for the whole country and football teams over the country. In a recent announcement of Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF), the country’s professional football tournaments are scheduled to come back with the kickoff of the National Cup on May 5, followed by the third round of V.League 1 LS 2020 one week afterward. In case the situation and competent authorities allow, V.League 1 LS’s third round will kick off sooner. The timetable will be rescheduled and be announced to V.League 1 LS teams some days before the kickoff time. The matches will be played with or without spectators depending on COVID-19 situation and directives of the authorities.
Some V.League 1 LS teams recently started their training activities in order to prepare for the third round, which is scheduled for May. For example, players of Viettel FC gathered at the team’s sports center on April 22 to take part in a high intensity training program. V.League 1 2019 champion Ho Chi Minh City restarted their training practices on April 26 and travelled to Vung Tau City for training course.
Sanna Khanh Hoa-Bien Vietnam (Sanna KH-BVN) also gathered their players on April 23 morning to prepare for the new season of V-League 2 (Vietnamese National Football First League). All the team members of Sanna KH-BVN performed the safety measured instructed by the authorities, such as cleaning training facilities and used hand sanitizer. In general, during the period of furlough due to COVID-19, most of the players performed a good sense of self-protection and maintained regular physical exercise; therefore, they have still had good physical condition. The problem is that Sanna KH-BVN players need to regain their form in a short period of time so as to play well at the upcoming tournament. This is also a problem for other teams, both in V.League 1 LS and V.League 2.
Non-professional football tournaments are also scheduled to come back in May. In particular, Vietnam Football Federation recently announced that the first leg of the National U-19 Championship 2020 would start on May 5; the opening ceremonies of the National U-15 Tournament and National U-19 Tournament would take place on May 19 and 20; the National Futsal HDBank Championship would begin in the beginning of June. The period from mid-June to the end of July is the scheduled time for the National Second Division Football Tournament, National U-17 Championship, National Women’s Cup, National Women’s Championship, beach football tournament, and football tournament for teenagers and children. The above timetables can change depending on COVID-19 situation and the permission from the competent authorities.
An Nhien
Translated by H.N
