Experts also talk about the three-way race between the championship candidates Phu Dong Ninh Binh, Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc and PVF-CAND. But within the race where the 2 billion VND prize for the champion is not necessarily as important as the ticket to V.League promotion, there is another equally noteworthy angle.
It was a “battle of wits” on the coaching bench. Actually, saying “battle of wits” in the First Division seems a bit too much, but when that’s their job, there’s nothing wrong with that. The highlight here is that, except for a foreign coach at PVF-CAND and a notable name, Vo Dinh Tan at Khanh Hoa, some coaches were former players in the past 20 years or so. And they were all just over or under 40 years old.
That is Nguyen Minh Phuong, 44 years old, at Ba Ria - Vung Tau club, who is still remembered for the free kick that assisted Le Cong Vinh to score the goal that brought the AFF Cup 2008 championship to the Vietnamese team. Although he started his coaching career in 2017, having worked at several teams, success has not come to this former midfielder.
Similarly, Le Quoc Vuong, 42 years old, only started at Hoa Binh club at professional level more than a year ago. This year, this former midfielder will continue to accumulate experience with Hoa Binh, facing former teammates like Nguyen Viet Thang, who is leading Phu Dong Ninh Binh.
Viet Thang, 43 years old, has made more significant impressions, even though it was only as an assistant in the Vietnam national team and the Vietnam U23 team, directly leading the PVF and Can Tho teams.
Two other names of the same age, Nguyen Anh Duc - 38 years old, and Phan Thanh Binh - 37 years old, also made the "waltz on the coaching chair" this season more interested. Anh Duc has more opportunities when leading Binh Phuoc with potential, while Thanh Binh leads Dong Thap team which still has many difficulties.
The upcoming matches will give them more experience, and at the same time help the First Division get more attention.
