Song Lam Nghe An (in possession) will face tough competition as they chase a sixth National U-17 Football Championship. The tournament starts at Nam Dinh’s Thien Truong Stadium on July 8.

The Group B competition will open with defending champions Song Lam Nghe An facing off against Vissai Ninh Binh the following day.

Eight teams will participate in the championship, including hosts Nam Dinh, defending champions Song Lam Nghe An and six other teams who qualified in group competition last month.

The two top teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals at Dinh’s Thien Truong Stadium from July 8-17.

Nghe An has taken the top spot in this tournament five times in its six year history. The championship was organised by Bong Da (Football) newspaper.

“We are honoured to organise the championship for the sixth time, and to be recognised on the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF)’s annual roster,” said head of organising committee Vu Manh Hai.

“The championship has been one of the most important arenas for junior players to boost their skills and experience, creating more opportunity for the future of Viet Nam’s football,” added Hai.

The champions will take home a cash prize of VND60 million (US$3,300), while the second and third place winners will walk away with VND40 million ($2,200) and VND30 million ($1,600), respectively.

Awards will also be presented for Best Player, Fair-Play, Best Goalkeeper and Top Scorer.

The best players from the tournament will be called up by the national U-17 squad in preparation for the Southeast Asian U-17 Football Championship, according to VFF.

“Over the last six years, the junior tournament, which began as an U-18 event in 1998, has provided the best players to the national senior team,” said VFF’s general secretary Tran Quoc Tuan.

“Many provinces and cities have set up their own young football centres, which have proven to be a power source for junior teams in the premier championship, V-League, as well as in annual tournaments in the ASEAN Football Federation and Asian Football Confederation.”

Most junior teams in V-League and First Division have established their own junior training leagues nationwide.

Current football stars including Le Cong Vinh, Phan Thanh Binh, Chau Phong Hoa and Doan Viet Cuong debuted at the junior tournament and made it to the top of the regional AFF Suzuki Cup last year.

At the championship in Da Nang last year, Song Lam Nghe An crushed SHB Da Nang 5-2 to lift the trophy in the fifth time.

VNN/VNS