Military Zone 4 dreams of V-League

Edging out Dong Thap Rubber 1-0 on away turf last Sunday, Military Zone 4 took top place in the National First Division Championship, raising their hopes of jumping to the top-flight V-League next year. 

Military Zone 4 took top place in the National First Division Championship

The central Nghe An-based Military team lead the First Division with 50 points, three points ahead of runners-up T&T Ha Noi, with two games left in the championship.

The team have almost secured a berth in the V-League and they need only defeat An Giang at home turf this Sunday to celebrate for their ascent into the premiership. Last Sunday’s win was a decisive victory for the team as their target was simply to reach the top five.

This time last year, the team, who were languishing at the bottom of the First Division, got a lift when Sara Group signed a sponsorship deal with the club. The team have been playing out of their own coffers this year while most other teams are sponsored by businesses.

Military Zone 4, who are owned by Military Zone 4 Command, received a cash boost of several hundred million dong this year, but the relatively small sum – compared to clubs with corporate sponsorship – though it meant the players made less money, hasn’t stopped them from battling their way to the top.

The players fought all out to win five games in a row and dethrone T&T Ha Noi from top place in the last three weeks.

The military team have hired foreign players, making it the third army team to do so after The Cong of the V-League and Military Zone 5 of the First Division. Currently, Lazaro De Souza, Suliman Abdullahi and Aminu Awwalu make up the team’s best trio.

Military Zone 4 team coach Vu Quang Bao attributes the success to offensive style and the drive to win among the players – who are mostly young soldiers.

Lazaro, the team’s major striker, has scored 13 of 47 goals for the team after 24 games at the championship.

Fans of Military Zone 4, who were promoted into the First Division last year, expect to light flares at home on Sunday if the team defeat An Giang. If they fail to win, the squad has another chance in the final game against T&T Ha Noi next Sunday.