LookAtVietnam – Eight foreign volleyballers have agreed to compete in the first stage of the National All-Star Volleyball Championship, announced the Viet Nam Federation of Volleyball (VFV).

According to Nguyen Thi Nhat Thanh, deputy chief of the secretariat of external affairs of the VFV, Vietnamese clubs had asked the VFV to sent their requests to the Thailand Volleyball Federation in order to find players who would meet the skills and demands of the Viet Nam clubs.

Currently, 12 men’s and women’s teams have sought foreign players in their team line-ups for the championship.

Thanh said, “At present, there are eight clubs including Vinh Long, Quang Ninh, Industrial and Commercial Bank, Bai Bang Paper Mill, VietsoPetro, Thanh Hoa and Hai Duong with Thai volleyballers.”

Vietnamese clubs can’t hire good Thai players because most of them have contracts to compete abroad, mainly in Europe. They have signed long-term contracts and have high incomes compared to the salaries they would receive in Viet Nam.

“Viet Nam can’t hire the best Thai volleyballers because our contracts with them are too short. The longest one is only two months. And the salary is limited,” said Thanh.

To recruit foreign volleyballers, teams have to pay between US$2,000 and $2,500 each per month. Thai Supachai Jitjumroon, who played five consecutive seasons for Trang An Ninh Binh, received $3,000 every month.

The number of foreign players will probably increase because the registration deadline is not yet finished (10 days before the event starts) and many clubs are still looking for players.

The first stage will feature two dozen men’s and women’s teams competing in a round robin. The men and women will be divided into to groups for competition from March 21 to April 5 in Ha Tinh and Phu Tho Gymnasiums.

Three top teams from both categories will progress to a second group stage, with the four top teams meeting in the semi-finals.

Volleyball was the second sport (after football) to enter the professional arena four years ago by forming a professional regime league. At the annual premier championship, men’s and women’s teams have been allowed to trade players and sign on foreigners since 2005.

According to the organising committee, in the first stage last year, teams had 29 foreign players from Thailand, Russia, China and Sri Lanka under contract, of which Thailand dominated with 18 players.

But in the second stage, 24 foreign volleyballers registered to compete, the organising committee said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News