Sài Gòn FC is seen in training. This year, Sài Gòn FC plan to bring to Japan two players to compete for Ryukyu Club of Japan. Photo Sài Gòn FC

Football

HÀ NỘI —  This year, Sài Gòn FC plan to send two players to compete for FC Ryukyu in Japan, who play in the J2 League.

Chairman of Sài Gòn FC, Trần Hòa Bình, said Ryukyu has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Sài Gòn FC.

Ryukyu, located in Okinawa Province, signed a similar deal with the Chinese Taipei Football Premier League for international exchange through football and co-operation between the two sides.

This year, Ryukyu decided to work with Sài Gòn to combine to strengthen the development of Vietnamese football. Ryukyu will receive Vietnamese players introduced by Sài Gòn to Japan to play in J2 League and carry out activities to contribute to the development of Vietnamese and Asian football.

Bình said this year, his club will send two Vietnamese players from Sài Gòn to Ryuku and next year, four players are hoped to make the move.

Bình added that in the near future, his club would complete the construction of the Thành Long Sports Centre as the club in a closed football complex.

According to Bình, the club wants to hold group stage of the AFC Cup 2021 in HCM City.

"We have contacted the Việt Nam Football Federation to promote the application to host the AFC Cup 2021 qualifiers. We want HCM City fans to have a chance to see the AFC Cup matches at Thống Nhất Stadium,” said Bình.

Sài Gòn are in Group H with Kedah (Malaysia), Lion City Sailors (Singapore) and the winner of the playoff between Persipura Jayapura of Indonesia and the winner of the preliminary playoff between Visakha FC of Cambodia and Lalenok United FC of Timor Leste at the AFC Cup 2021.

The AFC Cup 2021 group stage in Southeast Asia will take place on June 22 - 28, with as yet unreleased centralised locations.

As Việt Nam has controlled the COVID-19 pandemic very well, Sài Gòn are confident they will meet all the conditions of the Asian Football Federation to allow Group H to be played in HCM City. — VNS