HAGL football academy opens in Pleiku

The Hoang Anh Gia Lai-Arsenal Football Academy started its first course in Pleiku city of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on October 10.

The Vietnam News Agency reported from Gia Lai province that the US $4 million academy, the first of its kind in Viet Nam, is a joint initiative between V-League”s topflight club Hoang Anh Gia Lai and world famous English football club Arsenal. The 5-ha facility holds two stadiums and 30 double rooms for overnight accommodation with space for future additions.

Addressing the opening ceremony, chairman of HAGL Corporation Doan Nguyen Duc said SWe have great faith that the institute will train young footballers to become professional ones of international standard within the next seven years.⬝

Keith Edelman, Arsenal managing director, said the institute will do much for Viet Nam”s future success in the football world.

The best 18 junior players out of 6,300 candidates have been selected for the first seven-year course. They will be taught by Jean Marc Guillou, an experienced French ex-footballer.

Fully trained by the age of 19, the footballers will be good enough to earn their place in the national team or play for foreign clubs.

The course is free and the players” parents will receive 10% of their transfer fees upon graduation.

Also at the opening ceremony, the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) signed a strategic cooperation contract with the institute to develop young talents of Vietnamese football.

Nhan dan