Thanh to move to Ninh Binh
National defender Vu Nhu Thanh has signed a three-year contract with Ninh Binh after five-months of negotiations, Tran Tien Dai, the team managing director said.
Thanh will join the V-League club from Becamex Binh Duong this month for the start of the season. The Vissai Cement-sponsored side was promoted to the top league after winning the First Division last year.
The 29-year-old defender will earn a record salary of VND40 million (US$2,000), excluding bonuses.
Thanh played key role to help the national team win the ASEAN Football Championship – AFF Suzuki Cup, when Viet Nam beat Thailand 3-2 in a two-leg final last year.
He also helped his former Binh Duong win the V-League in 2007 and 2008. He is one of Viet Nam’s best defenders and won the Silver Ball for being the second best player of the year in 2009.
Last month, the Ninh Binh sacked Brazilian coach Edson Tavares just four weeks into the job because of their disagreement of contractual terms. Last year, Ninh Binh made their record deal of a VND3 billion ($189,000) contract with former national team member Nguyen Viet Thang.
Taekwondo team trains for qualifiers
The national youth taekwondo team has been established in preparation for the Youth Olympics 2010 qualifiers in Mexico, said Vu Xuan Thanh, head of taekwondo section at the National Sports Administration.
The nine-member team began training at the HCM City and Da Nang National Sports Centre last week and will continue until early March.
The team will fly to Mexico on March 3 in a bid to secure places in the final.
The Youth Olympics will be held in Singapore in August.
Taekwondo martial artists will compete in five men’s and women’s categories.
Xuan Thanh football institute opens
The Xuan Thanh Football Institute and Xuan Thanh football club have opened in the central province of Ha Tinh.
The institute and club are sponsored by the Xuan Thanh group.
The club is hoping to make it into the First Division. — VNS