Vietnam’s national football coach said on Monday that he was very pleased with the debut performance of Vietnamese football ace Le Cong Vinh in round seven of Portugal’s premier league on Sunday.

The victory margin would have been greater had the Vietnam Golden Ball winner of 2004, 2006 and 2007 not missed two scoring chances.

“Vinh called me after the game,” Calisto said. “I was thrilled to hear he’d been in the starting line-up for the first time since joining Leixoes.

“It’s even better to know he played the full 90 minutes given that his coach Jose Mota made three changes during the game.”

Calisto said Vinh’s appearance in a match of Portugal’s top-tier league held great significance for Vietnamese football.

In the history of local football, only one player (Le Huynh Duc, who is now coaching V-League premiers Da Nang) has played in a national league where the standard of football is higher than Vietnam’s, China in his case.

That is why Vinh’s showing in Portugal on Sunday is something very special for himself and Vietnam, Calisto said.

“Above all, it indicates that Vietnamese footballers are capable of playing in a premier league in Europe,” the Portuguese tactician said.

Speaking from Portugal on the phone, Vinh said, “The goal of my stay at Leixoes is to train and learn. I have tried my best since I arrived. That’s why they are using me on the field.”

If given the call, Vinh said, he would be pleased to return to play for Vietnam against Syria in the qualifying round of the 2011 Asian Football Confederation Cup in November.

However, Calisto, who had recommended Vinh to Leixoes, said he would continue to let Vinh play and improve his game in Portugal rather than call him back for any internationals.

Source: Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre