Avispa Fukuoka Club wants to recruit Cong Phuong and Xuan Truong

Coach Masami Ihara is impressed with the ability of Vietnamese players and is considering recruiting some players.

“The Vietnamese players played well in this match, attacking sharply and if we had not defended tightly and focused, we would have lost the match,” coach Masami Ihara of Avispa Fukuoka Club shared after the 0-0 draw with the Vietnamese team on the afternoon of November 12. “I was very impressed with the players Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, Van Toan, Hoang Thinh. They are players with good technique and played very well.”

“I know Xuan Truong is playing for Incheon United, and Cong Phuong is playing for Mito Hollyhock, so it will be difficult to recruit them. However, all Vietnamese players are capable of playing in Japan, so we will find out and seriously consider the matter.”

Xuan Truong (red) in the match on the afternoon of November 12. Photo: Duc Dong.

Avispa Fukuoka were just relegated from J-League 1 to J-League 2. In the friendly match in Can Tho, they did not have the services of foreign players but still played tightly and eliminated most of Vietnam's chances. "Vietnam controlled most of the time but we were luckier. I was impressed with the long passes that Vietnam built in their current style of play."

Recently, Cong Phuong and Tuan Anh were given the green light by Mr. Duc to return to Vietnam to compete in V-League 2017. Over the past year, this duo was sent to Japan but rarely had the opportunity to play in J-League 2. Xuan Truong alone has one year left on his contract with Incheon United Club (Korea).

CoachMasami Ihara had many compliments for the Vietnamese players. Photo: Duc Dong.

After the match with Avispa Fukuoka, the Vietnamese team will return to Ho Chi Minh City and coach Huu Thang will reduce the list to 23 or 25 players to leave for Myanmar on November 15 to attend the AFF Cup.

According to VNE