Filipe Martins and the unluckiest foreign players in V.League 2021
Yen Thanh•February 21, 2021 12:38
(Baonghean.vn) - Many foreign players missed the first phase of V.League 2021 for various reasons. The most tragic cases include those eliminated not due to professional factors, such as Pape Diakite, Joseph Mpande, or Filipe Martins.
Striker Filipe Martins played for SLNA in the 2020 season, scoring 2 goals in 7 matches. After that, he tried out for Nam Dinh and Hai Phong, but both attempts were unsuccessful. In the 2021 V.League season, due to Bruno Henrique's injury, SLNA decided to add Martins as a backup option. During that time, SLNA played with fewer players, and Martins scored one goal against HAGL but had to leave the Nghe An team because Bruno had already signed a contract. Currently, the former SLNA striker is training hard in Ho Chi Minh City, waiting for his opportunity. (Photo: VPF)
After the V.League 2020 season ended, Joseph Mpande (in red) rushed back to Uganda to visit his family and was unable to rejoin Hai Phong FC for the start of the 2021 season. Reluctantly, head coach Pham Anh Tuan had to remove the key player from the squad for the first phase. The player has now returned to the club and has agreed to wait until the second phase. Photo: VPF
Despite being a high-quality central defender, Pape Diakite was dropped from Ho Chi Minh City FC's squad for the first half of the 2021 V.League season, even though he was not injured. The coaching staff prioritized the striker position. Although the club offered him the opportunity to leave and find a new team, Diakite chose to stay and train with the club, waiting for the second half of the season. (Photo: VPF)
Perhaps the unluckiest player was striker Claudecir. He missed too many opportunities, including two penalties, resulting in HL Ha Tinh finishing empty-handed after the first two rounds and having his contract terminated prematurely. (Photo: VPF)
Foreign player Papa Ibou Kebe (23) was formerly part of Hanoi FC, joined Quang Nam FC in the second phase on loan, scored 5 goals in 14 matches but could not help the team avoid relegation. Hanoi FC then did not continue to cooperate with Kebe. He returned to France and then came back to Vietnam in early 2021 but did not have time to find a new club and is still waiting for an opportunity to play in the second phase. Photo: VPF
(Baonghean.vn) - Currently, the V.League 2021 national championship is temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The tournament organizers have begun taking concrete steps and developing plans in an effort to get the V.League back on the pitch. The most pressing issue is whether or not spectators will be allowed into the stadiums.
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