Some of the 2019 Golden Ball candidates (from left to right) Đỗ Hùng Dũng, Nguyễn Quang Hải and Đoàn Văn Hậu. Photos hanoimoi.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Golden Ball 2019 Award Gala will be held on May 26 in HCM City.

The winner will be selected from Hà Nội FC players, midfielders Đỗ Hùng Dũng, Nguyễn Quang Hải, defender Đoàn Văn Hậu and striker Nguyễn Văn Quyết. Midfielder Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng of Viettel is the only one from another club to make the shortlist.

Dũng is favourite for the prize after an outstanding season for both club and country. The 2019 season saw Dũng on the top podium at the V.League 1, National Cup, Super National Cup, and the 30th SEA Games. Dũng helped Hà Nội become the first Vietnamese team to reach the AFC Cup’s Inter-zonal final.

On the women’s side, Phong Phú Hà Nam’s midfielder Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung is expected to win the statue for the second time in a row. While other candidates are Chương Thị Kiều, Cù Thi Huỳnh Như and Trần Thị Kim Thanh of HCM City and Phạm Hải Yến of Hà Nội.

Organisers will also present award to futsal players, best young male and female players and best foreign player of the year.

The Golden Ball Award is an annual competition organised by Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) newspaper to honour individual players who contribute best over the year.

Normally, it is organised at the end of the year or early the following next. However, because there are many sport events that included football held in late 2019 and early January 2020 as well as the coronavirus pandemic, the gala was delayed to May.

At the Gala, the organisers will also honour coaches Park Hang-seo and Mai Đức Chung for what they have contributed to national football. — VNS