LookAtVietnam – Top sports men and women from around the nation are being lured to compete for Da Nang teams due to a salary incentive policy.

Hoang Anh Tuan.

Olympian weight lifter Hoang Anh Tuan, who bagged the only silver medal for Viet Nam at the Beijing Olympics last August and a clutch of gold medals at the Asian Championships, has agreed to compete for Da Nang for a record income of VND15 million ($833).

A native of northern Bac Ninh Province, Tuan left his home to settle into a new life 800km away in hopes of launching a new life with his new team.

“There are favourable conditions here to help me reach the top and a better life for the future. I hope to enter the National Games wearing the new jersey when they are hosted by my new city next year,” Tuan said.

Da Nang began its policy of inviting the best coaches and athletes in football, swimming, pencak silat and canoeing to help the city dominate among the Ha Noi and HCM City powerhouses.

First affair

In late 2004, former national football team striker Le Huynh Duc inked a deal to lead the front line of Da Nang’s V-League team as its first success.

Duc made a record salary for a sportsman at that time when he received VND19 million (over US$1,000) monthly salary.

The deal moved the former sharp striker from defunct HCM City-based Eastern Asia Bank to Da Nang from 2004-2007.

He then dedicated his life to lead the team as coach after he officially retired from playing football in 2007.

“I chose Da Nang because I find life here comfortable, with a favourable location, crazy fans and a quiet lifestyle,” Duc said, noting, though, that moving meant a complete change for him and his family.

Da Nang lead the V-League rankings and hope to take the championship this year, which they haven’t done since 1992.

Da Nang City also attracts top athletes by promising land, apartments or jobs after sport.

But the high monthly income has played an important role in attracting athletes to the city recently.

Favourable conditions

“Of course, the monthly salary rate for athletes is based upon their power and ranking. This policy encourages them to play well, and gives them confidence in competition and life,” said head of Da Nang sports administration, Le Nguyen Hong.

“All athletes receive the favourable conditions they need to give them their best power for higher targets in sport,” Hong said, adding that the city should do more to train youth for the future.

Top athletes earn different levels of payment; national champions get between VND3 and 5 million ($166-277), while Southeast Asian and Asian winners enjoy a higher sum of VND6 to 10 million ($330-556).

World champions are paid at the highest level of VND15 million ($833), excluding bonuses for their achievements at every championship.

Each athlete who wins a gold medal in the national championship benefits from an extra monthly allowance of VND2 million ($111) on top of their salary for that year.

There is also a policy that allows the city to invite good youth coaches to train hopeful future athletes.

Over the last three years, Nguyen Thanh Phuc, who dominated the men’s athletics championship in the 20km walk event, and prodigy swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc were recruited by the national team last year, both trained in Da Nang.

The city hopes to build powerful athletes in a few key sports among the many who are flocking to the city.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News