Determining 12 teams participating in the 2021 National U19 Finals

At this time, although the 2021 National U19 Championship Qualifiers still have one more round to go, due to the recent outbreak of Covid-19, the matches scheduled for February 1 have been postponed. However, since most of the groups have determined the teams that will advance to the final round, the organizers have decided to end the group stage early.

Specifically, the Organizing Committee has determined 12 teams to enter the final round including: Hanoi, PVF (Group A); SLNA, NutiFood (Group B); Quang Nam, HAGL, Binh Dinh (Group C); Binh Duong, Saigon, Khanh Hoa (Group D); Dong Thap, An Giang (Group E).

Among these teams,U19 SLNA, U19 NutiFood are the two leading candidates because they have the core team that reached the final of the National U17 in 2020 and the Nghe An team is the winner, claiming the championship. The U19 PVF team is also highly regarded thanks to its achievement of reaching the semi-finals of the tournament last year.

SLNA U19 team in 2020 received Bronze Medal. Photo: Hai Hoang

In 2021, U19 SLNA aims to win the championship with a group of talented young players such as Dinh Xuan Tien, Nguyen Van Bach, Ho Van Cuong, Phan Xuan Dai, Nguyen Cong Huy, Nguyen Canh Tiep. On the coaching bench, there are many veteran and talented coaches of Nghe An youth football such as head coach Pham Bui Minh, coach Dinh Van Dung, coach Le Ky Phuong orCoach Pham Van Quyen.

In the past, SLNA has won this tournament 5 times in 1999; 2001; 2004; 2005; 2006. That means for 15 years, Nghe An football has missed the championship. Many times, there were failures in the finals. The current champion of the tournament is U19 PVF after defeating U19 HAGL 2-0 last season.

The 2021 National U19 Tournament is also the first time the number of participating teams has been increased from 8 to 12. This is an opportunity for young talents aged 18 to join the Vietnam U18 team andU19 VietnamParticipate in major tournaments such as the Southeast Asian U19 Championship and the Asian U19 Qualifiers in the following years.

The core of the SLNA U19 team in 2021. Photo: TK

According to the announcement from the Organizing Committee, the time and location have also been planned. The teams will draw lots to compete in the final round in Binh Duong, but due to the time overlapping with the rounds of the V.League, the field is the biggest problem. The possibility of the matches of the final round of the National U19 tournament this year will take place from March 18 to 31.

In addition to the National U19 tournament, the Vietnam Football Federation has also just announced plans to organize the 2021 National U21 tournament. It is expected that this tournament will take place from October 9 to October 20. This is the time when the V.League and the 2021 National Cup have ended (September 30) and the teams will have the best preparation.

Song Lam Nghe An leaves opponents far behind in the 2021 National U19 Qualifiers

(Baonghean.vn) - After the match against U19 Thua Thien - Hue on the afternoon of January 18, the U19 SLNA team led by coach Pham Bui Minh is leading with an absolute record in Group B of the 2021 National U19 Qualifying Round.