Former Brazilian coach likely to return to the helm
Brazilian coach, Edson Tavares, who in the 1990s became the first foreign coach for the Vietnamese national football team is likely to return to lead the squad for the second time.
"The signing of contract is just a matter of time", Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper quoted Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Secretary General, Pham Ngoc Vien, following a meeting between Tavares and VFF officials on Monday. Local media said Tavares and the VFF have agreed upon most terms and articles of the contract, which would be valid for at least one year. Earlier on Sunday, Tavares travelled to the central city of Vinh to watch the V-League clash between defending champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai and the home team Song Lam Nghe An.
The Brazilian coach will likely start work early next month just after the team's second World Cup qualifier against Lebanon at Thien Truong stadium in northern Nam Dinh province.Tavares, 44, could receive a monthly salary of US$12,000-14,000 including expenses estimated at US$3,000, according to Vietnam News daily.
The VFF has negotiated with the Brazilian after missing out on a deal with former Thailand squad coach Peter Withe last month.
The new coach might take up the job early next month just after the team’s second World Cup qualifier against Lebanon on March 31. Vietnam will play their final qualifying group game against South Korea in June. The later upcoming big matches are at the Southeast Asian Football Championships (Tiger Cup) in December and the 23rd SEA Games in the Philippines in 2005.Tavares, who had a short spell as Vietnam national coach in February 1995 said at a discussion at the Vnexpress on-line newspaper on Monday that he left over "disagreements with sponsors".
After leaving Vietnam in 1995, Tavares moved to China where he worked at different clubs.
Radio Voice Of Vietnam - March 16, 2004
Vietnam investigates football players over brawl death
HANOI - Police in Vietnam said Tuesday they were investigating the involvement of seven professional football players, including a national squad member, over the death of a 24-year-old man in a brawl. The victim, Pham Van Tue, was drinking with some friends in a park in the central city of Hue when a group of people, including the seven players, asked to borrow their guitar. They refused to lend it, prompting a punch up.
After being badly beaten, Tue tried to run away but fell in a lake. He was rescued by staff at the park but died en route to hospital, according to the Thanh Nien newspaper. One of his friends was also seriously injured and hospitalised. Hue police confirmed they had arrested three people following Saturday's incident. None of the seven professional footballers from the the Thua Thien-Hue Football Club, the reigning domestic V-League champions, were among those detained.
"Now we are investigating the involvement of Le Van Truong and six other players from the club," a provincial police spokesman told AFP. Truong is a regular member of the Vietnam national squad. He played in the final of Southeast Asian Games football competition, which Vietnam lost 2-1 to Thailand in sudden death extra time. This latest incident is likely to cast a further pall over the scandal-ridden V-League, which has been plagued by match-fixing since its debut 2000/01 season.
In November Vietnam international Vu Nhu Thanh was banned for five years for allegedly instructing teammates to underperform during a JVC Cup match between Vietnam 's under-23 team and Malaysian club Perak earlier that month. Two other players from the Hoang Anh Gia Lai club, the reigning domestic V-League champions, were also suspended in November for three years for their involvement in fixing a quarterfinal tie in July's ASEAN Club Championship.
Agence France Presse - March 16, 2004
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