“We need to keep up the requirements of professionalisation process”

– The 5th Term of VFF is about to end. Looking back at the achievements in the last 4 years, what do you like the most?

* Firstly, I want to emphasise the biggest change in organisation structure. This is the first time that VFF is organised in a 2-level model. In which, the Executive Committee just plays a role of orientation and supervision, while direction and handling all the tasks belong to a specialised operating agency which is headed by General Secretary. I argue that this model is suitable with characteristics as well as the conditions of Vietnamese football. The operation apparatus may not be perfect, but by giving the responsibilities and authorities to specific individuals and departments, everyone will have the best efforts in working.

Another point is VFF Term 5 has had the independence of the judicial agency that includes the Inspection Committee, Complaints Settlement Committee and Disciplinary Committee. It is true that it was difficult at first, but the work was to be more smooth later… I am also satisfied with the professional operation of the Organising Committee, which organises the national football tournaments such as V.League, V.League 2, based on the good coordination of VFF functional departments with the relevant authorities. The arbitration assignment gradually achieved the highest rationality. Effectiveness comes so clearly: professional quality increases, more audiences come to the stadium, the matches more intense and fierce… Also from this advancement, the prestigious as well as the commercial value of the awards increased much higher than before.

– An highlight event of term V is the historical victory of the Men Football Team at AFF Cup 2008. With you, what is the meaning of this championship?

* Not only with me but also with all VFF’s members, football’s people as well as millions of fans, this is the well-deserved achievement of aspiration and unremitting efforts. But we also need to mention the success in organising the final round of Asian Cup 2007 as the milestones which helped VFF completely stand up after the shock at the beginning of Term V.

– Besides the happiness and success, do you still have any concerns after a turbulent but glorious term?

* Yes, there are still many difficulties. We are going on the professionalisation way, but prevented by many barriers. In terms of policy mechanisms, VFF doesn’t have the consistency from centre to local. The investment in facilities also lacks consistency. The local, which has good facilities and pitches along with an “open” mechanism, can build strong, sustainable clubs and vice versa. Here, it is necessary to mention the football socialisation element. The active participation of economic sectors is really necessary, but cannot separate from the professionalisation of operating apparatus, from centre federation level to each club, with a hope to go on the right track. It is necessary to have a strong development orientation, avoid the lack of understanding, practices and investments. We need to stick to the requirements of professionalisation progress. This is the reason why at this 6th Congress, we expect to have positive changes from the operating mechanism to organisational model. Such things as the VFF President can directly appoint the General Secretary (instead of being elected by Congress), simplify the Executive Committee apparatus in the direction of enhancing the member organisations role and eliminating “frontality”… are intended to meet these criterias.  

– Thank you, sir!