Renovation of facilities boosts Vietnamese football
As the VFF (Vietnam Football Federation) concluded the successful hosting of the latest FIFA Forward 3.0 regional workshop last week in Ho Chi Minh City, the host member association could also bask in the glow of another recent success: the renovation of players’ dormitories at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center.
The Centre is the latest in a series of FIFA Forward projects aimed at improving the Southeast Asian country’s football infrastructures and facilities.
Constructed in 2008, the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre facilities were in serious need of upgrade. With strong support from FIFA Forward, the VFF wasted no time embarking on a long-term renovation. Years of effort – via FIFA Forward 1.0 and 2.0 – have paid off with the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre now boasting modernised equipment and up-to-date facilities.
FIFA FORWARD – REVOVATION OF PLAYERS DORMITORY AT THE VFF NATIONAL YOUTH TRAINING CENTRE
A total of USD 2.7m has been invested in a series of projects, including the installation of a new floodlight system, the renovation of an artificial pitch, upgrading of training equipment and medical equipment, and most recently, the renovation of dormitories for national team players. An investment of USD 547,509 has resulted in 19 rooms, spread across three floors.
“Vietnam Football Federation’s long-term development strategy is to invest in state-of-art football infrastructure to cater for its national teams who are on a continual upward trajectory (Men, Women, Boys & Girls),” said Sanjeevan Balasingam, FIFA Director of Member Associations Asia & Oceania.
Today, the new-look Training Centre serves as the major training facility for all Vietnamese national teams, both women and men, across all age groups. The Centre has also hosted domestic and continental competitions, as well as fellow Asian national teams who have conducted training camps there. Off the pitch, the venue has also hosted technical events, providing the setting for coaching courses and refereeing seminars.
In the coming months, the Vietnam women’s national team – the Golden Star Women Warriors, who made history at the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup by booking their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualification at Australia and New Zealand 2023 – will conduct their final preparation at the Centre. This week, the team will be competing in the AFC’s first qualifying round for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024, taking on Nepal at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu.
“The Forward Programme is designed to provide our member associations with tailor-made assistance according to their specific football development needs,” said FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Kenny Jean-Marie. “The Vietnam Youth Football Training Center is now able to play a key role in supporting Vietnam’s national teams, and the new FIFA-funded dormitories will certainly help the VFF to continue their remarkable progress”.
Talking about the FIFA Forward project, VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan thanked the world governing body for its support. “Thanks to the support of FIFA, the renovation process at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre has been completed with an increase in the number of rooms and upgraded facilities.
“The renovated accommodation will provide the national teams with better living conditions and improve training and pre-competition preparations. This is an effective and practical support for us in order to continue developing Vietnamese football.”
