Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - With the help of the Vietnam Football Federation(VFF), Czech-Vietnamese goalkeeper Filip Nguyen has a step toward naturalisationso he can represent the national team.

In a recent online interview with VietnamTelevision (VTV), Nguyen said he is still carrying out the naturalisationprocess to fulfil his dream of playing for his country of descent, adding thathe hopes he can play for the national team in the 2022 World Cup qualifierslater this year.

Despite being his Vietnamese heritage, Nguyendoesn’t meet the requirement for five-year permanent residence and Vietnameselanguage skills, leaving his case unresolved.

The VFF has helped Nguyen family solvethese problems, and the process moved forward recently when the Ministryof Justice instructed the VFF to carry out some procedures.

“We have studied a number of importantdocuments as a basis for Nguyen’s naturalisation, including Resolution No36 on the work of Vietnamese living abroad.

“According to this resolution, Vietnamtries to complete and build a new system of policies to attract and respecttalents, promote the contribution of overseas Vietnamese experts to thedevelopment of the country, including sports,” Le Hoai Anh, Secretary Generalof the VFF told thanhnien.vn.

“Nguyen and his family always look to thehomeland and want to contribute to the Vietnamese team. The goalkeeper is alsoa talented player who deserves to be selected by Vietnam. The VFF is very eagerto have the services of Nguyen in the Vietnamese team’s jersey so theVFF is supporting his family to carry out legal procedures," Anhadded.

As a sports talent, Nguyen can be exemptedfrom five-year permanent resident status and knowing Vietnamese. The onlymandatory requirement for the 27-year-old goalkeeper is to have a Vietnamesename.

Nguyen, born to a Czech mother and aVietnamese father (who was born in the northern port city of Hai Phong), is1.91m tall – an ideal height for a goalkeeper.

He plays for Sloven Liberec, one of themost successful teams in the Czech Republic with three league titles in theCzech First League and one Czech Cup win since 1993.

Nguyen is a key player in Slovan Liberec'ssquad and has kept four clean sheets in their last 10 matches.

As a young player, Nguyen trained at the ABC BranikPraha Football Institute and used to be on the books of AC Sparta Praha,who have competed in the UEFA Champions League many times.

With the Thai League returning in September, currentnational team stopper Dang Van Lam, who plays for Muangthong United, is indanger of missing the AFF Cup 2020 at the end of the year, so Nguyen’sVietnamese naturalisation would be good news for coach Park Hang-seo.

The Korean coach has been charged withdefending the AFF Cup title and moving to the third qualifying round ofthe 2022 World Cup. Vietnam currently lead Group G with an unbeaten recordafter five matches./.