SLNA will keep all 3 foreign players
(Baonghean.vn) - Almost certainly, SLNA's trio of foreign players in the 2021 season will still be Gustavo Santos, Peter Onyekachi and Felipe Martins.
Sharing with Nghe An Newspaper, Technical Director Nguyen Duc Thang affirmed: "Due to the complicated situation of the Covid-19 epidemic, the team's plan to search for and try out foreign players like every year will be difficult to implement. Therefore, we will try to keep Gustavo Santos, Peter Onyekachi and Felipe Martins for the new season."
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Gustavo Santos (number 95) has not met the expectations of experts and football fans in Nghe An. Photo: Phan Tung |
This is a "rare" decision of the Nghe An football team. In the past,SLNAoften radically change foreign players after each season. Vinh Stadium is even considered a "transit station for foreign players" of V.League. Not many cases are as lucky as former midfielder Michael Olaha, a player who played for SLNA for 3 consecutive years (2017 - 2019).
Thus, with the statement of Technical Director Nguyen Duc Thang, it is likely that SLNA will complete the contract with Gustavo Santos, Peter Onyekachi and Felipe Martins in the near future. Most likely right after the match between SLNA and DNH Nam Dinh in round 5 of group B, phase 2.V.League 2020, takes place onVinh Stadium, at 5:00 p.m. on October 31.
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It is very likely that next season Felipe Martins (number 99) and Peter Onyekachi (number 22) will be playing together again in SLNA's shirt. Photo: Xuan Thuy |
Objectively, the professional level of the 3 foreign players mentioned above is only average in V.League 2020. Center back Gustavo Santos was once a waste product of Viettel and Saigon FC, striker Felipe Martins played unsuccessfully for HAGL, and striker Peter Onyekachi is just having his first season playing football in Vietnam.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Gustavo Santos, Peter Onyekachi and Felipe Martins have not played very well this season. SLNA's poor performance in V.League 2020 is partly the responsibility of Gustavo Santos, Peter Onyekachi and Felipe Martins. In the case of Felipe Martins, it is understandable, because he has only played for SLNA since the end of phase 1.