Futsal

Khổng Đình Hùng (left) celebrates when he scores Việt Nam's first goal during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Group D match against Brazil at Klaipeda Arena on September 13, 2021 in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Hùng is invited to play in Thai league for two months. Photo of FIFA

HÀ NỘI — Khổng Đình Hùng has been offered a contract by Thai club Imane Futsal Centre, which would make him the next Vietnamese futsal player to begin competing abroad.

Aged 34, the fixo (defender) Hùng has tasted competition environments in all levels of tournaments from domestic league to World Cup.

In the 2022 season, he won a Silver Ball, a second finish, for the Best Futsal Player of the Year.

The captain of Sahako FC guided his team to second place in the national championship and semi-finals of the National Cup this season.

“I received the news during my training on November 28 and was surprised about it," said Hùng, who is the oldest member of the national squad.

"I had planned to retire after the upcoming HCM City Futsal Open by the end of December. But I might delay my retirement to enjoy an opportunity to compete for an abroad club.

"Sahako FC managers agreed to let me test my ability in Thailand and my family also strongly supports me. I am excited for the trip," he said.

Imane Futsal Centre also invited Hùng's teammate and goalkeeper Nguyễn Hoàng Anh, a regular member of the national team in recent years, at the same time.

They will travel to Thailand in the next few days. If they pass the tests they will play in the Thai League 2 for two months. No more details of their deals are released.

Hùng said coach Prasert Innui connected with the Vietnamese players with Imane Centre. The Thai tactician worked with Hùng four years ago when they were at Sanatech Khánh Hòa FC.

The coach and player regularly contacted with each other and Innui kept updating information of his former players as well as Việt Nam's tournaments.

“I am told that Imane followed me and Anh when we competed at the national tournament, before sending their offers," Hùng said.

"I have set several targets for this trip. I will not only show my professionalism but also learn about Thailand's organising activities, because it is one of the best futsal leagues in Asia. It will help me when I move to work as a coach in the future."

Sahako FC will be the next club to send players to compete abroad. Prior to Hùng and Anh, many players, mainly from the nation’s strongest club Thái Sơn Nam, competed abroad.

Goalkeeper Đặng Phước Anh was the first player going out with a contract with Thai Chonburi in 2012. Fixos Trần Văn Vũ and Phạm Đức Hòa played for O Parrulo Ferrol FS of Spain, while pivo Nguyễn Minh Trí and ala Trần Thái Huy played for Npo Yokohama Sport & Culture in Japan, in 2019. VNS