Long An determined to return to V.League 2019

On January 2, Long An Football Club will gather again to prepare for the 2018 National First Division Football Tournament which will start next April. The club's leaders said they are determined to win the championship to return to the V-League in 2019.

After being relegated to the first division, Long An Club has liquidated 10 players and the remaining 13 veterans are mostly young talents trained by the club over the years. Last week, the club signed two new players: striker Tuan Anh (Top scorer of the first division in 2015, playing for Ho Chi Minh City in V-League 2018), and AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 champion - midfielder Nguyen Vu Phong (last season played for SHB Da Nang).

Despite being subject to disciplinary action, coach Ngo Quang Sang is still trusted by Long An Club's leadership to make full professional decisions from January 2, 2018. Photo: ANH HUY

During the training day, the club will add 5 players from the youth teams they have selected and trained. After the V-League teams finalize the list, Long An will add 6 players who have played in the professional league.

Long An's Board of Directors has also just approved coach Nguyen Minh Phuong to transfer to lead SHB Da Nang. Instead, coach Ngo Quang Sang will replace Nguyen Minh Phuong. Although he is serving a 36-month disciplinary sentence from the Disciplinary Board of the Vietnam Football Federation, coach Ngo Quang Sang has been assigned full responsibility for professional matters (training, activities, and competition) by the club. When entering the 2018 National First Division, veteran Phan Van Giau will be registered as head coach to direct tactics when the team competes.

Because of being relegated to the first division, Long An is not under financial pressure (under 20 billion VND). Many businesses inside and outside the province continue to sponsor the club.

It is known that the 2018 National First Division Football Tournament will have 10 participating teams. In addition to the champion team that will be promoted directly, the second-placed team will play a play-off match with the 13th-placed team of V-League 2018 to compete for the right to participate in V-League 2019.

Up to now, no club - except Long An - has determined the highest goal of being promoted to professional level in 2019.

According to Tuoitre