All set for Vision Vietnam" launch in Nghe An, Long An

Top officials of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) applied the final touches to the Vision Vietnam” project on Wednesday in a day-long meeting at the AFC House here.

A tailor-made plan for boosting the game will be first implemented in the pilot cities of Nghe An and Long An, informed VFF President Nguyen Trong Hy. SWe agreed about the dates of the workshop and the study visits of 24-28 October to the two pilot provinces of Nghe An and Long An,⬝ said Trong Hy. SWe will go back and brief the two cities.⬝ The VFF President said he would also try to get some assistance from the government for the project next year.

AFC General Secretary and Vision Asia” Project Director Dato Peter Velappan listed the three tasks the VFF would have to undertake for making the project a success. SThey will have to appoint a Vision Vietnam Task Force and also a Coordinator,⬝ said Velappan. SThe third thing is to set up a Vision Vietnam Development Fund to raise awareness about the programme.⬝

In his concluding speech, AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam said: SThis is the easiest part of the Vision when it is on paper. I don”t underestimate Vision Asia team”s report which has been painstakingly put together. But this is after all theory and remains on paper.⬝

SWhen I first presented Vision Asia” to our Congress, I told them that what I presented in two hours needs 15 years to be implemented. So, talking is much easier than action. But I can see the positive and enthusiastic response to Vision Vietnam.⬝

SUsually I am telling the National Associations that with or without Vision, football is going to exist in your countries. So if you think you have better ideas than what we presented today, please forget everything about our plan. If you think Vision can add something to your efforts and can assist you in developing your football, then we are willing to help you.⬝

SI must thank the VFF President as he has saved a lot of embarrassment because even before this workshop started Vision Vietnam”s implementation had started. I reconfirm the assistance and help which I offered earlier. Let”s hope that all Vietnamese will be proud of their football in the next 10-15 years.⬝

SWe are building for the future and it is not necessary that everything comes to fruition in the near future. But for the next President and the executive committee the base must be stronger than the one we inherited. The best thing is that we are working for the future of football.⬝

Trong Hy responded by thanking the AFC. SWe can feel the enthusiasm and appreciate the support of the AFC. Our common language is Vision Asia” and we highly appreciate the AFC”s initiatives for the development of football.⬝

SSince the Vision Vietnam workshop in September last year, we have already got one product – the new VFF Statutes, which have led to policy changes and the way we do things. We would like the AFC to train our people so that we have enough expertise to develop our football.⬝

On the issue of corruption, he said the VFF was talking to the police and the government. SWe will submit our proposals to combat corruption through legalisation of betting and hopefully the government will approve this by the end of this year. This will also hopefully add to our finances.⬝