VietNamNet Bridge – Striker Le Cong Vinh on May 24 saw doctors of the Hanoi-based Vietnam-France hospital. They had a similar diagnosis as Vietnamese American doctor Tuan Nguyen. Cong Vinh has decided to have an operation in Portugal.

At the advice of coach Henrique Calisto, Cong Vinh went to the Vietnam-France hospital for examination. Doctors still said that his knee ligament were torn and the striker needs an operation to play football.

Cong Vinh and his club, T&T Hanoi, have decided to have the operation at a hospital in Portugal. The hospital has successfully conducted surgeries for world football stars like Chelsea’s Drogba and MU’s Anderson. Calisto and a football agent named Tiago Calisto will help Cong Vinh during his trip.

According to T&T Hanoi, coach Calisto contacted with doctor Jose Carlos, who performed the operation for Drogba. The cost of the operation is between 35,000-40,000. T&T Hanoi will cover the pay. The team is acquiring a visa to Portugal for Cong Vinh in early June.

Doctors said that Cong Vinh will recover after six months but coach Calisto hopes that the star striker will need only two month for recovery to timely participate in the AFF Cup 2010.

Meanwhile, Song Lam Nghe An’s halfback Nguyen Cong Minh, who is also a member of the national U23 squad, was examined by a foreign doctor at the Sports Hospital on May 24. This doctor will be in charge of the knee operation for Cong Minh. The Vietnam Football Federation will pay the fees.

PV