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Visionary: Duong Ngoc Hung will start a goalkeeper training centre in Quy Nhon in the central province of Binh Dinh. File photo |
A goalkeeper training centre will be established in Quy Nhon city, in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh, former coach of Binh Dinh club, Duong Ngoc Hung, announced yesterday, June 7.
Hung, who takes charge of the centre, said in a phone interview that he had been preparing a master plan to start the project following the end of 2010 World Cup on July 11.
The former national coach assistant resigned as coach of Binh Dinh two weeks ago to continue his 20-year career in football at his home town.
Binh Dinh has proved a source of goalkeepers for the national team over two decades, providing players such as Nguyen Van Cuong, Tran Minh Quang and To Vinh Loi.
"Building a goalkeeping academy was my dream and aspiration when I was playing football as a goalie for Binh Dinh. The centre will be the first ever in Viet Nam, and will specialise in training goalies for teams nationwide," Hung said.
"Viet Nam has lacked a specialised goalkeeper training centre and most of the premiership V-League teams have yet to do anything about it. Clubs don't even bother including a goalkeeper coach in their set-up," he says.
As scheduled, the first five-year course will enrol a group of 20 teenagers between 14-15, who will receive full-time training in both football skills and academic training at the 2,000sq.m centre.
Three years ago, Hung had earmarked Gia Lai as a potential base when he was recruited as a coach assistant by Hoang Anh Gia Lai, but then decided to set it up in his home area.
He said he wanted to see Binh Dinh regain its pride as source of top, international standard goalkeepers for the Viet Nam national team.
"I got worried when V-League teams began hiring foreign keepers 10 years ago. This wouldn't have happened if not happen if Viet Nam was capable of training goalkeepers," Hung said.
"Actually, most of Vietnamese teams train their own goalkeepers. There isn't a specialised centre for the most important spot in a football squad," said coach of Xuan Thanh Ha Tinh, Nguyen Van Sy.
"We expect that Hung will prove successful and V-League teams will recruit the best goalies from the centre," Sy said.
Hung has seeks sponsorship from businesses and support from the local sports administration when the project begins in August.
