Red Bull representative Nguyễn Thanh Huân (left) and Nguyễn Tấn Anh, HAGL FC official, exchange gifts to each other to mark on the partnership signing ceremony. Photo courtesy of Red Bull

Football

HÀ NỘI — V.League 1 leaders Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) have worked with leading energy drink brand Red Bull to launch a recruitment tournament to give youngsters the chance to experience professional football training. The partnership also highlighted Red Bull’s efforts in spreading positive power and unleashing the inner strength of many young talents along the paths to conquer their passions.

People from 15 to 20 years old are eligible to take part in the programme in five cities and provinces of Tiền Giang, Cần Thơ, An Giang, Pleiku and Bình Thuận from April.

Candidates will be divided into teams to compete in 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 three-minute matches. The four best players from each province or city will be shortlisted for the final round in HCM City in June.

The final will see the 20 selected players competing in teams of five. HAGL will select up to four winners from those 20.

The winners will have the chance to participate in four months of training with the club's young teams at same ages.

They will also enjoy a VNĐ20 million (US$870) scholarship from Red Bull. 

Successful trainees will have chance to sign a contract with HAGL to become professional footballers.

“Young people's path to their dreams will always be full of obstacles. Red Bull hopes to empower them with positive energy to evoke the inner strength within each young talent and cultivate their resilience, both physically and mentally,” said Nguyễn Thanh Huân, country director of TCPVN, owner of Red Bull, the leading energy drink brand from Thailand.

“We believe that our programme will give them confidence and courage to overcome any challenges they might encounter in their pursuit of professional football.”

Nguyễn Tấn Anh, managing director of HAGL FC, stated: “The potential, capability, and perseverance of young Vietnamese football players, especially those aged 15-20, are tremendous. Many talented football players are waiting for a chance to receive the necessary attention to shine. Through this recruitment tournament, we hope to discover the most promising faces and let them become part of our club’s talent pool.”

HAGL have nurtured several of the national team's top players in recent years.

Their successful players include strikers Nguyễn Công Phượng and Nguyễn Văn Toàn, and midfielders Lương Xuân Trường and Nguyễn Tuấn Anh who contributed greatly to SEA Games title in 2019 and the AFF Cup trophy in 2018. VNS