Security at football games to intensify; Football star’s boots on sale for charity; Vung Tau to host world chess tourney; Boxers to get Cuban expert as coach

Viet Nam Football Federation will tighten up its security for the 2009 season kicking off this weekend.

VFF’s delegation, headed by Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy and General Secretary Tran Quoc Tuan, arrived in the cities and provinces of all participating V-League and First Division football teams to discuss security.

The number of security guards and stadium police will be doubled this year. Attention will be paid to derby and classic matches.

Fans from scandal-hit localities such as Hai Phong, Nghe An and Thanh Hoa will be subject to the tightest checks.

Hooligans will be heavily fined and fans will face lifetime bans for serious acts of violence.

Stadium managers and club leaders signed agreements to ensure safety at matches.

Last year, one man died and hundreds were injured during a violent riot at Vinh Stadium, Nghe An Province.

Football star’s boots on sale for charity

The boots worn by midfielder Nguyen Minh Phuong at the AFF Suzuki Cup final last December will go on auction to aid sick children at HCM City’s Tumour Hospital and disadvantaged young players from Dong Tam-Long An football club.

The starting price for the Adidas boots is VND20 million (US$1,175). Phuong bought the coveted boots for VND5 million ($295) before joining the national squad, and first used them at the T&T Cup last year, where he scored a goal against Thailand.

The auction began on Tuesday, and will close on February 28. The highest bidder will get the boots on March 1 at the game between Dong Tam Long An and T&T Ha Noi.

Vung Tau to host world chess tourney

Viet Nam will host chess’ Asian zone 3.3 qualifying tournament in Vung Tau City this May.

Players from 10 countries and territories will take part in the event which will be held together with the World Chess Federation Congress.

Winners will qualify for the 2009 World Chess Championship to be held in Condino, Italy, from October to November this year.

This is the second time the country has organised the qualifying tournament for the World Chess Championship. The first took place on the southern Phu Quoc Island in 2007.

Boxers to get Cuban expert as coach

Cuban expert Facundo Felizola Duany will coach the national boxing team at the National Sports Training Centre in Da Nang.

The 52-year-old coach signed a one-year contract and arrived in Viet Nam early this month.

Duany, who is working for a boxing training centre in Havana City, has 12 years in his training job and was awarded best coach of the 2000 Cuban National Championship.

Duany is expected to be head coach at the Viet Nam national team at the coming Southeast Asian Games in Laos this December.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News