Hong Linh Ha Tinh: The worry named foreign players

To prepare forV. League 2022With the tournament about to begin, Hong Linh Ha Tinh currently has 27 domestic players and 2 foreign players, while the remaining players are awaiting procedures. Recently, they were in Ninh Binh to participate in the 2022 Hoa Lu Cup Professional Football Friendly Tournament, which officially kicked off with the participation of 5 teams: the host team CAND, Hai Phong, Dong A - Thanh Hoa, and Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Due to a player testing positive for Covid-19, Nam Dinh had to withdraw.

Domestic players are doing alright for now.

Recently, Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong's team has strengthened its "Nghe An-style" squad with quality signings such as Dinh Thanh Trung, Tran Phi Son, Tran Phi Ha, Truong Trong Sang, Phan Dinh Vu Hai, and Nguyen Van Hanh. In our assessment, winger Dinh Thanh Trung promises to make the Nui Hong team's playing style more diverse, especially in free-kick situations and attacks down the right wing.

Center-back Janclesio Almeida Santos has yet to inspire confidence. Photo: HLHT FC

In the Hoa Lu Cup, they won two and lost one, beating the First Division team CAND 2-1, losing to Hai Phong 0-1, and winning against Thanh Hoa 1-0. This was a test tournament, the results weren't very important, and in reality, the domestic players, including the newcomers, performed very well. Thanh Hoa's coach Petrovic fielded his strongest lineup but couldn't impose his game on the opposing team.Hong Linh, Ha Tinh.

However, the two foreign players have not lived up to expectations. Center-back Janclesio Almeida Santos is a familiar face, having played for Viettel FC since 2019, then for Hong Linh Ha Tinh in the 2020 V.League season, and before moving to SHB Da Nang in the 2021 V.League season, but his integration has been quite slow.

The question mark over foreign players.

Center-back Janclesio Almeida Santos is one of the exceptional foreign players, given a special contract by Hong Linh Ha Tinh due to his previous successful performances in defense, helping the team from Hong Mountain avoid relegation and finish in the top 8 of the V.League 2020.

Neighboring team Hong Linh Ha Tinh (in pink jerseys) is competing in the Hoa Lu Cup. Photo courtesy of Phi Hung.

Brazilian center-back Janclesio has been playing in Vietnam since 2019, having previously played for Viettel FC, then for Hong Linh Ha Tinh in the 2020 V.League season, and finally for SHB Da Nang in the 2021 V.League season. The 1.95m tall defender is known for his aggressive play, strong defensive interceptions, and ability to contribute to attacking goals with headers from corner kicks, but this time his performance was rather lackluster.

Coach Thanh Cong still has one vacant position in the attack and the right to replace foreign players after the first three rounds of V.League 2022. Photo: Thuy Dung.

Central midfielder Zakaria Suraka arrived at Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC on January 4th and had his first training session with the team the following day. Zakaria Suraka (born in 1996) is from Ghana and previously played for Rudar Pljevlja FC, finishing 7th out of 10 in the Ghanaian national championship as both a forward and a central midfielder. Joining Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC, Zakaria Suraka will wear the number 29 jersey and play as a central midfielder, replacing Hoang Anh. It seems the 26-year-old midfielder has only shown his agility in physical challenges rather than his finesse and skill in passing.

Coach Thanh Cong still has one vacant position in the attack and the right to replace foreign players after the first three rounds of the V.League 2022. However, it's clear that the fans in Ha Tinh are looking at the pockets of the new sponsor, Hoanh Son Group Joint Stock Company. The owner of Hoanh Son will have to spend generously for Coach Thanh Cong to be able to "go shopping" for foreign players as he wishes, to fill the void left by the departure of domestic players.