Football

General Director Nguyễn Minh Ngọc (left) and Ngọc Linh Kon Tum Ginseng Company's Chairman of the Board of Directors Trần Hoàn pose with their sponsorship contracts. The 2022 football season will be named Night Wolf V.League 1. Photo courtesy of VPF

HÀ NỘI — The national premier league will be named Night Wolf V.League 1 following a deal signed on February 10 in Hà Nội.

The Việt Nam Professional Football Company (VPF) inked a three-year sponsorship deal with Ngọc Linh Kon Tum Ginseng JSC, which owns the Night Wolf energy drink.

The contract will last from 2022 to 2025.

"Ngọc Linh Kon Tum contacted us and wanted to sponsor our league seasons ago. But at that time, VPF had already signed a contract with another partner. This time, we successfully become partners and I have never seen so fast and understanding in a negotiation like this one," said Trần Anh Tú, VPF's chairman of the board of directors.

"I believe that Night Wolf's support will give us more energy to control, manage and organise the tournament. And this cooperation will push the development of Việt Nam's professional football." 

Trần Hoàn, Ngọc Linh Kon Tum Ginseng Company's chairman of the board, said: "Deciding to go along with the V.League 1 for three years shows we want to join hands to strengthen national football. It also means that we can create a strong foundation for the national team with a view to helping Việt Nam grab a World Cup slot in a near future."

"I believe that it is a good chance that Ngọc Linh's Night Wolf can energise national football. At the same time, we can popularise Việt Nam's valuable ginseng which was called 'national treasure' in 2018 by then Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, now President Phúc."

Ngọc Linh Kon Tum Ginseng Company has preserved and planted Ngọc Linh ginseng in an area of 1,000ha on the Ngọc Linh Mountain over 25 years.

The company has researched and developed products from ginseng such as energy drinks, collagen skincare, ginseng bird's nest, ginseng tea and wine.

Hoàng Anh GIa Lai players are seen in a training course in preparation for the Night Wolf V.League 1. They will play Nam Định in the first round match later this month. — Photo of Hoàng Anh Gia Lai FC

The Night Wolf V.League 1 in 2022 will see the participation of 13 clubs. The first round will kick off on February 25.

Topenland Bình Định will host 2020 champion Viettel at Quy Nhơn. Two former champions Becamex Bình Dương and Sông Lam Nghệ An will meet at Bình Dương Stadium.

Hải Phòng will visit Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh while powerhouse Hà Nội will entertain Đông Á Thanh Hóa.

A day later, Nam Định will play Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, the leading team of the 2021 season, which was cancelled due to the pandemic, at Thiên Trường. And Sài Gòn will welcome SHB Đà Nẵng at their Thống Nhất Stadium.

HCM City will rest for the first round.

The winners will walk away with a purse of VNĐ3 billion (US$132,000) and represent Việt Nam at continental tournaments. Meanwhile, the bottom-placed team will drop into the V.League 2 competition next season.

All matches will be aired live on television, YouTube and other platforms.

This season will see the introduction of V.League 1's official anthem "Những Bước Chân Của Rồng" (Dragon's Footsteps).

It is a work by musician and singer Hoàng Bách and his partners.

The piece will be played in all matches of the Night Wolf V.League 1. — VNS