LookAtVietnam – Thai Nguyen will host HCM City in the National Women’s Football Championship - Austdoor Cup opener on home turf at Thai Nguyen Stadium next Tuesday.

Doan Thi Kim Chi (No 14).

This year’s championship will see six teams from HCM City, Ha Noi, Ha Tay, Ha Nam, Coal and Thai Nguyen in a two-leg round robin.

The second leg will take place at Ha Dong Stadium, from April 18 to May 6.

It’s expected that the championship will be a tussle between Ha Noi, Hoa Hop Ha Noi and HCM City, who have all provided key players to the national teams over the years.

Hoa Hop Ha Noi, formerly the Ha Tay Province team, will have a strong showing with national squad members Dao Thi Mien, Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, Nguyen Thi Nga, Nguyen Thi Ly and goalkeeper Duong Thi Khanh Ly.

HCM City will welcome the return of three-time Golden Ball winner Doan Thi Kim Chi.

Defending champions Ha Noi are still in top form with goal seekers Do Thi Ngoc Cham, Bui Tuyet Mai and midfielder Vu Thi Huyen Linh. The capital team will also field their four 17-year-old players.

Luong Thi Xuyen, 16, of Thai Nguyen will be the youngest player competing in the tournament.

Ha Nam have its own squad stars with 2003 Golden Ball winner Van Thi Thanh and Do Thi Hai Anh to join the race to the top against powerhouses Ha Noi and HCM City.

The overall winners will win a cash prize of VND80 million (US$4,600). Second place will pocket VND60 million ($3,400) and third place will bring home VND30 million ($1,700).

At last week’s draw, the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) and the Hung Phat company inked a sponsorship contract for the championship.

At the signing ceremony, the Viet Nam Football Development Joint Stock Company (VFD) - the VFF’s exclusive marketer - signed an one-year tournament contract.

The women’s tournament has had more difficulty in the past finding championship sponsorship than the men’s.

“Although the Vietnamese women have succeeded in the Southeast Asian region. It’s very difficult to lure sponsorship for women’s football,” said VFF’s vice chairman Vu Quang Vinh.

In the meantime, there are not many tournaments for Vietnamese female footballers to participate in. There are only 15 matches both in the national league and for the national team for them to put their skills to test.

Speaking at the sponsorship signing ceremony, deputy general director of Hung Phat company, Hoang Ngoc Tuan, said the company wishes to support the women’s tournament, which he hopes will allow the Vietnamese players to hone skills before the Southeast Asian Games in Laos this year.

At the end of the tournament the organising committee will present winners for the Best Player, Best Scorer, Best Goalkeeper and Fair-Play.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News