Embattled V.League coaches on shaky ground amid resignation calls

Thanh Hoa’s Senegalese striker Pape Omar Faye competes against Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s goalkeeper Minh Nhut during a V.League match on July 11. Photo: Thanh Nien

This week all the attention for Vietnam’s top flight V.League has been on the coaches, not the players.

Just after the tournament entered its second half, questions started flying at some of the coaches about whether they should resign or stay.

Quang Ninh management has accepted the resignation letter of Coach Dinh Cao Nghia on Saturday, just a few hours after the host was crushed 3-0 by the bottom-place team Can Tho.

Before the match local fans reportedly pressured Nghia to leave if their team lost to Can Tho.

Quang Ninh had been in the top three for several times in the first leg, but dropped to 6th place after the 15th round.

Meanwhile with the precious victory, Can Tho advanced two places to number 12 and escaped the dangerous zone, as the two weakest among V.League’s 14 teams will be disqualified for the next season.

This was also Can Tho’s first victory away from home this season.

Quang Ninh’s former coach Dinh Cao Nghia. Photo: Minh Tu

Quang Ninh chairman Pham Thanh Hung said that Nghia was too disappointed and decided to quit the press briefing after the match.

Nghia’s assistant Hoang Tho had to take his place.

Tho said at the briefing: “We lost in all aspects, from strategy to psychology. The players were not themselves. I could not believe that Quang Ninh had a big loss to a weaker Can Tho.”

Tho has been appointed as the acting head coach.

The bottom two

Meanwhile, coaches of the two teams at the bottom, Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Dong Nai, rejected rumors that they might quit.

“So far, there has been no leader saying that I should quit or something. There should be responsibilities in difficulties and this is not the time for me to leave my team,” said Dong Nai’s Coach Tran Binh Su.

“I only quit if they ask me to or in inevitable situations like illnesses. Those who resign from the team now are cowards.”

Dong Nai’s Coach Tran Binh Su. Photo: Kha Hoa

In a week, Dong Nai lost to two teams in the bottom half, including Dong Thap and Can Tho. Dong Nai is ranked at the bottom with only 9 points, after Hoang Anh Gia Lai with one point ahead.

Su said his team is looking forward to securing more points, by defeating Hoang Anh Gia Lai, and staying in the league.

Sharing Su’s view, Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s Coach Guillaume Graechen earlier also said he would not resign even if his team would not play well.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s Coach Guillaume Graechen. Photo: Kha Hoa

“I have never thought that Hoang Anh Gia Lai would drop out of the league. Everything will be decided when the season ends,” he said.

Graechen, who coaches young players at the Arsenal-backed academy in Gia Lai, said his players need time to improve.

“It’s their chance to improve when facing difficulties. It is unreasonable to force young players to be able to play like more experienced players.”

He also insisted that he would not resign even if Hoang Anh Gia Lai lose again.

“Resigning is accepting failure and that’s not my style. My job is coaching the team and I have to do my best,” he said.

TEAM	W	D	L	Pts
1	Becamex Binh Duong	10	2	3	32
2	Thanh Hoa	9	4	2	31
3	Hai Phong	7	5	3	26
4	Song Lam Nghe An	7	4	4	25
5	Dong Tam Long An	6	6	3	24
6	Quang Ninh	7	3	5	24
7	Sanna Khanh Hoa	5	6	4	21
8	Hanoi T&T	5	5	5	20
9	SHB Da Nang	5	4	6	19
10	Dong Thap	5	2	8	17
11	Quang Nam	2	8	5	14
12	Can Tho	3	4	8	13
13	Hoang Anh Gia Lai	2	4	9	10
14	Dong Nai	2	3	10	9