Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - From the Asian U23 Championships a year agothrough the Asian Games, the AFF Cup and recently the Asian Cup, Vietnamesefootballers have shone on the international stage.

Now, the team’s stars need to play club football abroad to reach their fullpotential.

Fox Sports Asia recently named five young players likely to move abroad afterthe Asian Cup, including midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai.

"While he plays for Hanoi FC in Vietnam currently, his fleet-footeddribbling abilities and eye for goal would definitely have attracted theattention of other teams in Asia, perhaps even in the J-League," thewebsite wrote of the diminutive playmaker.

It is not the first time Fox’s reporters have urged Hai to leave Hanoi.

Last September, Scott McIntyre published an article on foxsportsasia.com entitled ‘Quang Hai needs to move abroad now’.

McIntyre heaped praise on the player but slammed his current employers forholding him back, writing.

“It is remarkable then that his V.League club, Hanoi FC, is refusing to listento transfer requests from three different continents, insisting that he’sbetter served by continuing his development at the club.”

At the time, it was reported that the 21-year-old and Hanoi FC officialsbelieved it was better for him to sharpen his skills locally for the next twoor three years, though Hai has yet to comment publicly on the issue.

While Hai has stayed quiet, his teammate Nguyen Cong Phuong has spoken up.

Speaking to media after Vietnam were knocked out of the UAE tournament byJapan, the striker said: "I want to have the chance to play abroad, Japanor Europe, however, it is not easy because of rules and contracts with myclubs. Some European clubs have contacted me but my (Hoang Anh Gia Lai) clubmanagers refused. I hope these issues will change soon and I can make my dreamcome true. It is also a way I could help the national team which is aiming fora berth in the World Cup."

The player from Nghe An province, who notched two goals and one assist in theAsian Cup, was tipped by Fox Sports Asia as likely to be the subject of bigtransfer offers after the tournament, possibly from Thailand or Japan for asecond spell.

Steve Darby, former coach of the Việt Nam national women’s team, tolde-newspaper doisongvietnam.vn that Hai, Phuong and other playerslike forward Phan Van Duc and defender Do Duy Manh are at their peak and shouldgo abroad if possible. 

Darby added that local clubs should work with other sides from more developedfootball countries to create opportunities for their players to move on to gainexperience.

He said foreign clubs had contacted Hai but Hanoi did not let him go, possiblyholding out for a bigger transfer fee, which is within their rights, butsomething that could stunt the player’s growth.

The best plan could be a loan contract, Darby suggested.

The first Vietnamese footballer to play in Europe, retired striker Le CongVinh, also thinks Hai needs to make the jump now.

"Hai can play abroad. He can even be successful as he has proved histalents. He is small but owns good technique and incisive mind which will helphim to integrate with different clubs," said Vietnam’s best striker Le CongVinh.

"Playing abroad has never been easy but to push oneself up players shouldnot stay locally. Such good players in our current generation will help changeour football image in other countries’ eyes," said Vinh, who played inboth Japan and Portugal.

Earlier this month, during a visit to Vietnam, Manchester United legendDwight Yorke also said Vietnamese players should leave the country to improve.

Speaking to fans in HCM City he said there were many players with potential inAsia and Vietnam in particular but they needed better conditions to develop.

He also said tournaments in Asia were not as competitive as those in Europe, soto push themselves footballers should go abroad and play at higher levels.

One of the national team’s stars has already taken the plunge, with goalkeeper DangVan Lam sealing a dream move after the Asian Cup to Muangthong United ofThailand.

Hai and Phuong have the ability to follow in his footsteps, the question iswill they be allowed to?-VNS/VNA