On the 4^th day of the 1^st lunar month, football players of the SHB Da Nang Club attended the first training session after Tet in preparation for the new football season which is slated to kick off in late February.

SHB DN players in post-Tet training session

However, Chairman of the SHB DN Club Bui Xuan Hoa and coach Le Huynh Duc could not hide their worries because their club has important players missing, including skilled domestic and foreign footballers. However, the football club has yet to sign contract with any foreign players who can satisfy the requirements of the coaching board.

Apart from former striker of Ho Chi Minh City Club Ismail Akinade, SHB Da Nang is still facing a lack of a skilled centre-back and a midfielder to build a strong attacking line.

Coach Duc said “We have tried to contact international brokers in the hope of seeking qualified foreign footballers to cover missing numbers ”.

He added some foreign players showed their keen interest in playing for his club, but they did not meet the requirements of the coaching board despite their impressive background.

As for domestic footballers, SHB DN have already signed contracts with several Vietnamese footballers. Included are midfielders Nguyen Thien Chi from Dong Thap Club, Nguyen Tai Loc from Long An Club and Vo Ngoc Toan from Song Lam Nghe An Club, and centre-backs Tran Dinh Hoang from Song Lam Nghe Club An and Luc Xuan Hung from Thanh Hoa Club.

Most notably, SHB DN is missing important players, including top striker Do Merlo who is now a member of the Nam Ha Nam Dinh, and midfielder Vo Huy Toan who is now playing for Ho Chi Minh City Club .

The team are only marked by the presence of Ha Duc Chinh, Hoang Minh Tam, Dang Anh Tuan and Nguyen Thanh Hai.

Mr Hoa said that his club would add foreign players who can satisfy the requirements of the coaching board to cover the absence of missing players in the coming time.

By NGUYEN AN - Translated by MAI DUNG