Gearing up efforts to reach a professional status since the start of 2000, 11 of the 14 teams that make up Vietnam’s popular V-League now play for big enterprises including Dong Tam-Long An, Binh Duong, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Hai Phong, Hoa Phat and ${bigcity_Hanoi:"Hanoi"} T&T.

According to the General Secretary of Vietnam Football Federation, Tran Quoc Tuan, the three other teams (Dong Thap, Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa) has yet to work out efforts in order to achieve a full business status, as required by the football association. Known as the governing body of the entire country’s most popular sport, the VFF wants to ensure that all teams achieve professional status by the end of August this year. The federation also told five of the 14 teams comprising the Vietnam First Division to do the same, adding that failure to do so might risk their teams for relegation.

The First Division is known as the second highest league in Vietnam after V-league. If recalled, a couple of teams from V-League during the past two years have had to back out of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League because they were not considered enterprises. Putting the Official Matchball to Test Manufactured by the world’s leading Football equipment maker, Adidas, the Jabulani (which means ‘to celebrate’ in isiZulu) was named the official matchball for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Specially constructed and designed to usher major advances in the football technology, the Jabulani allows the player maximum control, stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions. Selling at VND4 million (US$210), the V-League players put the ball to test and see how it runs up with their game.

When the Brazilian Ha Noi T&T defender, Cristiano, was interviewed after a training session, he had nothing but good things to say about the ball, adding that the Jabulani would give strikers a better chance of scoring from a distance. Goalkeeper Duong Hong Son, on the other hand, said it would take him at least two months to get used to it. Ha Noi and HCM to Face-Off  

-          ${bigcity_Ho_Chi_Minh_City:”HCMC”} won against Phong Phu Ha Nam with a 3-0 victory. With 18 points after nine matches, the team is now on top of the National Women's Football Championship. Defending champions Ha Noi 1 is hanging on the second spot with 17 points. With just a point gap to race on, the match between the two teams is expected to be really intense. Hanoi Trang An I will have to make three points while HCM is on the winning side with just a point to go after to snatch the championship title. It could be recalled that HCM won the championship title in 2005. With the match having drawn six teams already, the two strongest teams will face-off on the coming weekend. Definitely an exciting finale to look forward to!