The storm has passed…

(Baonghean) - Over the past year, Vietnamese football has experienced many turbulent times. It began with a domino effect from previous years, including club owners withdrawing from leagues and clubs disbanding. Next came the match-fixing scandal involving V. Ninh Binh players, followed by further scandals involving Dong Nai players. Most recently, on December 25th, the VFF announced a lifetime ban for nine V. Ninh Binh players. 2014 also witnessed many missed opportunities and missed chances for Vietnamese football. These included the women's national team missing the chance to qualify for the World Cup for the first time on home soil, the U19 Vietnam team failing in three consecutive finals, and the men's national team, which had been soaring at the 2014 AFF Cup, suddenly crashing down after a self-inflicted defeat against Malaysia in the second leg of the semi-final at My Dinh Stadium…

Alongside the dark sides, we also witnessed "new winds" in Vietnamese football. Names like Cong Phuong, Xuan Tuan, and Tuan Anh have delighted football fans. With their beautiful and dedicated style of play, the U19 players from the HAGL - Arsenal JMG Football Academy have thrilled fans after a long period of neglect of domestic football. These young players have ignited great hope for the future of Vietnamese football. At the AFF Cup, although they didn't reach the final, the Vietnamese team under coach Miura still showed a completely new face, with the fiery playing style of the young players. Names like Minh Tuan, Ngoc Hai, and Hoang Thinh... didn't achieve success at the 2014 AFF Cup, but in the future, they will be seasoned "warriors" at the 2015 SEA Games.

In the 2015 season, there will no longer be instances of foreign players taking turns dominating the V. League.

Entering the 2015 season, Vietnamese football will witness changes that promise to bring about new developments. Firstly, the number of foreign players will be significantly reduced, with clubs focusing on recruiting domestic players and creating opportunities for young players. SLNA and HAGL are prime examples, primarily using young, homegrown players they have trained themselves. This is also a way for V.League teams to reduce financial pressure. They won't have to spend large sums of money on salaries and signing bonuses for "stars" and foreign players. Young and domestic players will avoid sitting on the bench, having more opportunities to play and gain experience. Consequently, the national teams will also have more quality players.

Another piece of good news for Vietnamese football is that on December 25th, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced that Toyota, a major Japanese brand, has sponsored the 2015 V.League season. It's unclear how long this partnership will last, but at least for the 2015 season, the VPF (Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company) will have the funds to cover the operating costs of the V.League. More importantly, after all the ups and downs, Vietnamese football continues to attract the attention of sponsors.

The 2015 season is about to begin with positive signs, but how it will end depends on the rotation of the ball on the pitches!

Duc Dung