T&T Hanoi has recruited a new foreign striker, Agostinho, who was fired by Hoang Anh Gia Lai, hoping that he will be a good match for star striker Cong Vinh, who has scored only two goals in the first eight matches of V-League.

Striker Cong Vinh.

Cong Vinh, worth VND8 billion ($470,000), is the biggest hope of T&T Hanoi in its first time playing in V-League. But in the first eight matches, Vietnam’s top striker disappointed his team because of injuries and only two goals. His scoring total is equivalent to that of half-back Sy Cuong and is only one-third of other strikers like Almeida and Lazaro.

“Cong Vinh has to play football under great pressure. His foreign partners have played poorly. T&T Hanoi bought unqualified foreign players so Vinh has to play alone. He is also closely followed by rival fullbacks so he doesn’t have opportunities to make goals,” explained T&T Hanoi’s coach Trieu Quang Ha.

However, it is said that Cong Vinh is being shunned by his teammates. But Trieu Quang Ha denied this rumor, emphasising that Cong Vinh didn’t have the ball passed to him by his teammates in recent matches because of his weak physical strength. Ha believes that Vinh will quickly regain his form.

To help Cong Vinh to resume his position as the top striker in Vietnam, T&T Hanoi signed a 1.5 year contract with Agostinho, with monthly pay of $6,000.

Brazilian striker Agostinho was the key striker of Hoang Anh Gia Lai. This player was fired early this football season due to a conflict with star Lee Nguyen.

Agostinho will start playing for T&T Hanoi as of June 6, 2009.

VietNamNet/VNE

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