Japanese football team asked Mr. Duc to bring Cong Phuong back to play

As soon as he arrived in Pleiku to prepare for the 2018 U19 International Tournament with U19 Mito Hollyhock, Mito Hollyhock Club President Kunio Numata immediately paid attention to HAGL striker Cong Phuong.

In 2016, it was Mr. Kunio Numata who convinced Mr. Duc to let Cong Phuong play for Mito Hollyhock in the J2 League under a 1-year loan contract. After the contract ended, despite not playing successfully in Japan, the president of Mito Hollyhock still wanted to keep Cong Phuong.

Mr. Kunio Numata still wants to convince Mr. Duc to let Cong Phuong return to Mito Hollyhock.

Because of the 29th SEA Games, Mr. Duc then politely refused and brought Cong Phuong back to play in the 2017 V.League, with the promise to let him return to Japan at the right time. Returning to his hometown, the striker from Do Luong (Nghe An) played quite successfully in the V.League in the HAGL shirt and experienced the extremely successful 2018 U23 Asian Cup with the Vietnam U23 team.
Coming to Pleiku this time, Mr. Kunio Numata did not hide his desire to bring Cong Phuong back to Japan. He said: "I have always loved Cong Phuong and really want him to return to Japan. I will wait to see him again and believe that Cong Phuong will be a star when he returns to J2 League".

With the strategic partnership between HAGL Club and Mito Hollyhock, Mr. Kunio Numata will certainly continue to raise the issue of bringing Cong Phuong back to Japan when meeting Mr. Duc at the U19 International Tournament in Gia Lai this time.

According to the plan, the 2018 International U19 Tournament will take place from March 22 to March 30 with the participation of 5 teams: U19 HAGL, U19 Vietnam selection, U19 Chonburi FC (Thailand), U19 Mito Hollyhock (Japan) and U19 FC Seoul (Korea). The teams will compete in a round robin to determine the champion.