Who are the dedicated bosses?
V.League is about to enter its 25th season. Going back to the 2000-2001 season, Vietnamese football people expect the investment of businesses and sponsors to help Vietnam's number 1 professional football tournament transform more strongly. Instead of a management mechanism from state organizations, the appearance of private businesses or especially bosses will bring about a big turning point, with the name V.League.
In the early stages, the model of "Roman Abramovich turning Chelsea into a strong team because of rice, bold because of money in England" appeared in V.League, following a model that was more suitable and suitable for the country's football economy at that time. Mr. Thang (Vo Quoc Thang) of Long An or Mr. Duc (Doan Nguyen Duc) of Hoang Anh Gia Lai really made fans excited about their ability to steer and build strength for the clubs .
Over time, other bosses appeared one after another. Boss Truong (Hoang Manh Truong) of The Vissai Ninh Binh, Boss Hien (Do Quang Hien) of Hanoi T&T club, Boss Kien (Nguyen Duc Kien) of Hanoi ACB club, Boss Long (Tran Dinh Long) of Hoa Phat Hanoi, Boss Hung (Pham Thanh Hung) of Quang Ninh, Boss De (Nguyen Van De) of Thanh Hoa... gradually appeared on the V.League map.
However, not everyone is patient enough to invest in Vietnamese football in general or the clubs they control in particular. Besides Mr. Duc and Mr. Hien, who are still passionate about Hoang Anh Gia Lai or Hanoi FC, there are currently almost no bosses in V.League who have the time to stick with a club for more than 5 years...
Vietnamese football needs core professionalism
When the enthusiasm of the bosses is measured by a 3-4 year cycle or converted by the favorable mechanism from the locality, it is normal for clubs to only experience a golden period of that many years before faltering or fading away in V.League.
Over the past 24 seasons, V.League has seen around 50 teams participate. But up to now, 1/4 of those clubs are no longer even present in the Second Division or First Division, let alone the national championship.
Long An Club is the latest case facing the risk of becoming just a name in the history of Vietnamese football. Before this team, Can Tho and Kien Giang had become a football blank zone. Many clubs disbanded and after a few years, another team from the corresponding locality began to form and operate.
The pattern of football teams ceasing operations, localities accepting to give up football or sadly returning to the starting line can be easily seen. The simple reason is that the owners are out of patience or no longer motivated to support the team. The cash flow to operate the team is cut off, leading to players and coaching staff being owed salaries, bonuses, and kickbacks. In the end, if no other unit "takes the burden", the team gradually falls into the past. That heartbreaking story is like "daily bread" and is still present in the 24th season of V.League.
The internal strength of most clubs in Vietnam at this time is non-existent. More precisely, even the big teams in V.League are not sure if they dare to support themselves without the "milk" of their bosses. Television copyright is just a small number if divided among more than 20 teams competing in 2 professional divisions in Vietnam.
Sponsorship revenue is also only temporary or plays a short-term local role. Ticket sales are too low when fan interest is limited. Transfer money has only recently begun to emerge.
However, looking at it from a positive perspective, the bosses, whether they come or go, have contributed to the operation of V.League throughout the past two decades. Although it has not been as complete and standardized as international football, Vietnamese football with V.League has been making efforts step by step. In particular, the enthusiasm of the bosses has contributed their talents to V.League and to the Vietnam National Team. Hopefully, in the coming seasons, V.League will continue to witness more truly football-minded bosses.
