HÀ NỘI — The VietFootball Company has launched the first edition of the VietFootball Cup 2018 (HL1-S3) in the capital city of Hà Nội.

The VietFootball-organised ranking non-professional tournament was inaugurated in the morning of June 5 and belongs to the VietFootball’s movement match systems, which includes premier leagues as well as first- and second-class tournaments.  

A total of 12 teams, such as Mobifone, UCE Lê Dương, Dương Nội, and Hiệp Hòa Group, as well as Tô Ký, Hữu Bằng, Tuấn Sơn, and Tourism, will participate in the Cup. BIDV Quang Trung, Tùng Ân Hoa Lư, Triều Khúc, and Từ Sơn are also in the list of confirmed teams. The two top-performing squads will be promoted to the premier league, while the two worst-ranked teams will move to a second-class tournament next season.

VietFootball Director Phạm Ngọc Tuấn said the match system has been developed and has shown stability.

“Though we still have some financial difficulties, we will work hard to stabilise the football movement to satisfy the passion for football of non-professional players,” Tuấn said.

Tournament rules allow each team to register maximum of 5 non-professional players.

Matches will be held from June 16 to August 26 at the Hà Nội National University of Education Stadium, where the champion team will get the cup and a prize of VNĐ30 million (US$1,321).

A number of celebrities will take part in the tournament, such as pop singer Tuấn Hưng, who will act as coach and captain of Suzika Hữu Bằng, former Việt Nam national team midfielder Vũ Như Thành, who will play for Từ Sơn, and speaker Thành Trung, who will suit up for UCE Lê Dương. — VNS