What did SLNA General Director Nguyen Hong Thanh say about the new sponsor issue?

There will be a transition.

Bac A Bank has been with SLNA since 2009, a full 9 years after signing 3 contracts. During this time, the Nghe An team has achieved many successes from youth training to professional playing field. These include the 2011 V.League championship, the National Cup, National Super Cup titles...

However, it is likely that this unit will no longer be the main sponsor of SLNA from the 2019 season. Recently, there has been information that a large financial and real estate corporation in Vietnam wants to invest in the Nghe An football team.

This information made many Nghe An fans excited. Because with SLNA's existing potential, a large economic group investing a large amount of money will help the team retain its key players, and even recruit more stars.

General Director Nguyen Hong Thanh and Head Coach Nguyen Duc Thang at the 2018 football season launch ceremony. Photo: Trung Kien

Regarding this issue, SLNA leaders said that whether the team continues to work with Bac A Bank or not depends on the superiors, the team cannot decide. Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh - General Director of SLNA Football Joint Stock Company said: "This issue depends entirely on the Provincial People's Committee and the sponsors. Previously, there was information that it was Vingroup, but now we know that it is not. And the exact new sponsor is not yet clear to SLNA leaders themselves.

“If there is a new sponsor, Bac A Bank may transfer it back, if possible, they will support the development of youth training about 5-7 billion. The new sponsor will definitely invest in the SLNA first team, but the possibility of investing more in youth training is still open. If so, the team will be forced to cut that funding source partly for youth training, because youth training is very important. And the number of young athletes of SLNA is currently about 215 players, not counting the young coaches who need more attention,” Mr. Thanh shared.

Top 5 Goal

In the 2018 season, SLNA achieved many successes at all levels. Those were the championships of U11 SLNA, U13 SLNA and U15 SLNA. The runner-up of U17 National, bronze medal of U19 National and the first team of SLNA won the bronze medal of National Cup and finished in 4th place on the V.League 2018 rankings. From those successes, the Nghe An team set a clear goal for the upcoming season.

"From the successes and existing foundation, we believe that the new sponsor will help SLNA to be better and also hope that the future of Nghe An football will be brighter. Regardless, SLNA will strive for a position in the Top 5 of V.League 2019," said Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh.

In 2018, SLNA played quite successfully on all fronts. Photo: Contributor

Up to now, SLNA has successfully retained players Sy Sam, Sy Nam, Xuan Thang, The Nhat... Players like Ngo Xuan Toan have arrived at Saigon FC and are waiting for sponsorship to retain captain Tran Nguyen Manh. SLNA has also released Que Ngoc Hai from his contract so he can join Viettel. Center back Pham Manh Hung did not go to Hai Phong but continued to wear SLNA's shirt because he still had a contract.

In addition, in V.League 2019, teams will be able to register 3 foreign players. Therefore, SLNA is required to have more financial resources to recruit good foreign players, meeting professional requirements for a long journey./.

According to the investigation of Nghe An Newspaper reporter, it is likely that the sponsorship issue for SLNA will be finalized in mid-December. It could be a famous real estate corporation and the time to introduce SLNA's new sponsor could be right on the occasion of the Nghe An football team's 2019 season kick-off ceremony.

Roll call of SLNA coaches and young stars who won the national championship in 2018

(Baonghean.vn) - Following the successes of the U11 SLNA and U13 SLNA teams, the U15 SLNA team became the third team from Nghe An to win the championship in a year of great victory. In this common success, the role of the head coaches and young stars is very important. Let's join Nghe An Newspaper to name these talented coaches.