Man City send team list for VN game

Star attraction: Manchester City players seen during a 2-2 match against AS Roma on Tuesday during their friendly in Melbourne, Australia. — Photo goal91.com

HANOI (VNS) — European giant Manchester City on Thursday sent their official list of players who will visit Viet Nam next Monday.

Among 29 playes there are no big names, such as Sergio Aguero and captain Vincent Kompany.

The Argentian Aguero is taking a rest after participating at the recent Copa America while Kompany is said to stay at home to take care of his wife who will be giving birth in the next few days.

Apart from them, all other key members — Joe Hart, David Silva, Samir Nasri, and especially the club’s record-tranferred Raheem Sterling — will attend the friendly match which will be organised on Monday in Ha Noi.

Big day on Monday

Manchester City will land Viet Nam on Monday afternoon. In their three-day visit, they will take part in several community activities before competing against the national team at the My Dinh Stadium.

Viet Nam’s Toshiya Miura on Thursday also announced his list of 22 players to take part in the most wanted match against Manchester City.

The Japanese coach called two goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and six strikers who will start training today.

A press briefing of the friendly will be organised on Sunday. The match will be live aired on VTV6 channel.

Viet Nam’s match against Manchester City will give a boost to local football players and the game in the country, top Vietnamese striker Le Cong Vinh has said.

The three-time Golden Ball winner said the match would act like a shot of vitamin for football in Viet Nam and for the local players.

“We should give a big thanks to the organisers and sponsors who are bringing the great City players to Viet Nam,” Vinh said.

“When we play against them we will know where we stand and how much we need to strive to become better. It will be more meaningful for young footballers as it will be a good opportunity for them to learn from the world-class rivals,” he said.

“Moreover, this kind of a match will attract the attention of people, especially the investors and businessmen, who will then help develop football. It will be really important for the sport,” he said. Vinh is one of the most experienced players in the national team. He has played against FC Porto in 2004, Barca B in 2005, Olympic Brazil in 2008, and Olympiakos in 2009. He played against Arsenal in 2013 and has spent several months competing in Portugal and Japan.

The organisers yesterday announced that Vietnamese players who score a goal during the match will receive a large bonus. The best players from the two sides will also earn bonuses.

The value of the bonuses has not been revealed, but Do Quang Hien, Chairman of the Sai Gon-Ha Noi Commercial Joint Stock Bank, who invited Manchester City here, said the bonuses were only meant to encourage the players to try their Best, as the Viet Nam team and Manchester City play at entirely different levels.

Two years ago, midfielder Tran Manh Dung received a bonus after he scored a goal in Viet Nam’s 7-1 loss to Arsenal at the My Dinh Stadium.

Tickets of various prices were still available two days before the match, and only a dozen or so people came to buy them yesterday.

In an hour early in the afternoon, just nine tickets were sold to five fans, all of whom said the prices were high.

Le Van Trung paid VND3 million (US$140) for two tickets.

“They are too expensive, compared to the tickets for the Arsenal match earlier. For the same price I had a much better seat two years ago,” Trung, who is a businessman, said.

“But I bought a ticket as a gift for my nephew and I will attend the match because they are members of the Premier League, which I love the most among the various leagues in the world,” he said.

Half an hour later, Nguyen Van Du and Hoang Van Tiep came to buy tickets for VND600,000 ($28).

The students had to cut their monthly expenses to be able to watch Manchester City play.

“Yes, we know the price is high, but there is no other way because we love the City players,” said Du, 22, who will join a group of fans to welcome his idols this evening at the Noi Bai International Airport.

Du and his friend will also follow Manchester City during the team’s other engagements in Ha Noi and register to watch the players train on Sunday.

The tickets will be on sale until Monday or until they are sold out. — VNS

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