Defending V-League champions Becamex Binh Duong hope they will lift theNational Super Cup's trophy for the third time when they meet NationalCup winners Hai Phong in Binh Duong's Go Dau Stadium on December 27.
"Weare confident but very careful. Hai Phong have a hard way of playing.It is not easy to beat them but we will try our best," said Cao VanChong, General Director of Binh Duong Football Jointstock Company.
Chongadded that home turf was an advantage for Binh Duong to avenge their0-2 loss to Hai Phong in the National Cup final in August.
Accordingto Chong, Binh Duong will not have two key players, namely striker LeCong Vinh and half-back Le Tan Tai. Vinh is busy with his wedding withsinger Thuy Tien, while Tai hasn't recovered from an injury he sustainedduring the recent AFF Suzuki Cup.
However, the host side haveother outstanding faces such as half-backs Nguyen Trong Hoang, Hoang VanBinh and striker Nguyen Anh Duc.
The team will also register two foreign footballers for the match, Oloya Moses and Abass Cheikh Dieng.
Meanwhile, Hai Phong moved to Binh Duong on December 24 to prepare for the Cup. There aren't many veterans in their line-up.
FourFIFA-accredited referees will control the match, including Vo QuangVinh, who won the Golden Whistle award following his outstandingperformance in the V-League.
"They are good Vietnamese referees.The Super Cup is the opening match for the new football season so thereferee group is especially important," said the National RefereeCouncil's Nguyen Van Mui.
The Super Cup match has been heldbetween the V-League champions and the National Cup winners every yearsince 1999, with 10 football clubs having been crowned. Song Lam Nghe Anwere the most successful, lifting the trophy four times (includingthree consecutive times from 2001 to 2003), followed by two-time winnersHoang Anh Gia Lai and Becamex Binh Duong.
The two teams will play a 90-minute match with no extra time or further rounds.
Apenalty shootout will be held if the match ends in a draw. The winnerwill receive 200 million VND (9,500 USD) in cash, with the loser taking100 million VND (4,750 USD).
This year's Cup will be free toattend for fans, creating a strong atmosphere for the host side, whohave previously taken the title on two occasions. It will also bebroadcast live on VTV6.
Hoang to coach Hai Phong
Truong VietHoang will replace Dylan Kerr as the coach of the V-League side HaiPhong, the club's Chairman Tran Manh Hung announced.
Hung saidthat the Maltese-born English coach will end his one-year contract withHai Phong at the end of this year, and that his club believes in the newyoung coach Hoang, who is a former national footballer and head coachof the Hanoi Club.
"Many people are worried that Hoang is young,lacks experience and hasn't guided any V-League teams. However, I thinkthat it is not a big issue. Under Hoang's guidance, Hai Phong willprepare well for the new season, especially to win the upcoming NationalSuper Cup on December 27," Hung said.
"It is the first time thatI will be taking Hai Phong to play in the V-League. There will be manydifficulties ahead. But I will pass with the support of the club'sleaders and fans. It is my new experience," 39-year-old Hoang said.-VNA
"Weare confident but very careful. Hai Phong have a hard way of playing.It is not easy to beat them but we will try our best," said Cao VanChong, General Director of Binh Duong Football Jointstock Company.
Chongadded that home turf was an advantage for Binh Duong to avenge their0-2 loss to Hai Phong in the National Cup final in August.
Accordingto Chong, Binh Duong will not have two key players, namely striker LeCong Vinh and half-back Le Tan Tai. Vinh is busy with his wedding withsinger Thuy Tien, while Tai hasn't recovered from an injury he sustainedduring the recent AFF Suzuki Cup.
However, the host side haveother outstanding faces such as half-backs Nguyen Trong Hoang, Hoang VanBinh and striker Nguyen Anh Duc.
The team will also register two foreign footballers for the match, Oloya Moses and Abass Cheikh Dieng.
Meanwhile, Hai Phong moved to Binh Duong on December 24 to prepare for the Cup. There aren't many veterans in their line-up.
FourFIFA-accredited referees will control the match, including Vo QuangVinh, who won the Golden Whistle award following his outstandingperformance in the V-League.
"They are good Vietnamese referees.The Super Cup is the opening match for the new football season so thereferee group is especially important," said the National RefereeCouncil's Nguyen Van Mui.
The Super Cup match has been heldbetween the V-League champions and the National Cup winners every yearsince 1999, with 10 football clubs having been crowned. Song Lam Nghe Anwere the most successful, lifting the trophy four times (includingthree consecutive times from 2001 to 2003), followed by two-time winnersHoang Anh Gia Lai and Becamex Binh Duong.
The two teams will play a 90-minute match with no extra time or further rounds.
Apenalty shootout will be held if the match ends in a draw. The winnerwill receive 200 million VND (9,500 USD) in cash, with the loser taking100 million VND (4,750 USD).
This year's Cup will be free toattend for fans, creating a strong atmosphere for the host side, whohave previously taken the title on two occasions. It will also bebroadcast live on VTV6.
Hoang to coach Hai Phong
Truong VietHoang will replace Dylan Kerr as the coach of the V-League side HaiPhong, the club's Chairman Tran Manh Hung announced.
Hung saidthat the Maltese-born English coach will end his one-year contract withHai Phong at the end of this year, and that his club believes in the newyoung coach Hoang, who is a former national footballer and head coachof the Hanoi Club.
"Many people are worried that Hoang is young,lacks experience and hasn't guided any V-League teams. However, I thinkthat it is not a big issue. Under Hoang's guidance, Hai Phong willprepare well for the new season, especially to win the upcoming NationalSuper Cup on December 27," Hung said.
"It is the first time thatI will be taking Hai Phong to play in the V-League. There will be manydifficulties ahead. But I will pass with the support of the club'sleaders and fans. It is my new experience," 39-year-old Hoang said.-VNA
