HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc will present certificates of merit to the national U23 squad for their success at the ongoing Asian championship in China.

The players would receive certificates of merit for their outstanding performance during five matches as well as 10 officials and managers, including head of the Việt Nam delegation, coaches, technical director, interpreter and doctors; they will receive certificates for their contribution to the team’s success.

Phúc also proposed to President Trần Đại Quang to present a first-class Labour Medal to the U23 side and three third-class Labour Medals to head coach Park Hang-seo, midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải and goalkeeper Bùi Tiến Dũng for the excellent contribution at the tournament.

Under Park, Việt Nam ranked second in Group D with four points. They defeated Iraq in the quarter-finals and Qatar in the semi-finals becoming the first Southeast Asian country to enter the final round of the championship. Việt Nam will vie for the trophy against Uzbekistan tomorrow.

Hải scored four goals out of seven for Việt Nam, including the only one in Việt Nam’s 1-0 win over Australia in the group stage, which played a decisive role in pushing the team to second position.

Dũng, meanwhile, was a hero at the goalmouth of Việt Nam. He saved four penalties in five matches, in which three were from a penalty shootouts in the quarter-final and semi-final games leading to Việt Nam’s victories. 

Meet the fans

Việt Nam’s national U23 team will arrive home in a special aircraft on January 28, according to the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF).

Việt Nam will face Uzbekistan in the final match of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Championship in China on January 27.

There they will have a short parade by a two-storey bus at the airport.

“We have discussed many plans. The parade, which was proposed by VFF, will be held. But due to the weather conditions and security issue, the team will only parade for 1km from the airport to greet fans. They will then take a normal bus to reach the Hà Nội centre,” said Nguyễn Thái Bình, chief of the office of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. 

This will be followed by a ceremony in their honour at the Mỹ Đình National Stadium at 6pm. The ceremony will last until midnight and will provide free entry to fans. — VNS