On May 7 midfielder Pham Thanh Luong and female player Doan Thi Kim Chi were announced as Vietnam ’s 2009 winners of the Golden Ball title for best male and female soccer player of the year.
As leader of Vietnam ’s U-23 football team, Luong has been highly rated by professionals and sports journalists alike and beat many other candidates to seize the title with 301 points.
At last year’s competition, he was named as Outstanding Young Footballer of the year.
The runner-up is half-back Vu Phong, who played very well for both Becamex Binh Duong and the national team throughout 2009. Meanwhile, the Bronze Ball title for 2009 was granted to another prominent goalkeeper in the national team – Bui Tan Truong, a member of Dong Thap Rubber Club.
The Outstanding Young Player award went to Nguyen Trong Hoang from Song Lam Nghe An and the title of Best Foreign Player was presented to Gaston Merlo of SHB-Da Nang.
As for the female awards, Doan Thi Kim Chi from Ho Chi Minh City Club won the 4 th Golden Ball title of her career, thanks to her successful return to Vietnam ’s national female squad which won the gold medal at the 25 th SEA Games.
Goalkeeper Dang Thi Kieu Trinh, Chi’s teammate and also the hero of the 25 th SEA Games final, took the Silver Ball. Third place went to the female squads captain Dao Thi Mien of Hanoi .
The Vietnam Golden Ball Award was initiated by the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Saigon Liberation) daily newspaper 15 years ago to honour the country’s most outstanding football players for their contributions to Vietnamese football over the year.
The competitions winners are chosen by football experts, coaches and soccer journalists.
The awards will be presented at a gala dinner in Ho Chi Minh City Theatre on May18 to mark the competitions anniversary./.
As leader of Vietnam ’s U-23 football team, Luong has been highly rated by professionals and sports journalists alike and beat many other candidates to seize the title with 301 points.
At last year’s competition, he was named as Outstanding Young Footballer of the year.
The runner-up is half-back Vu Phong, who played very well for both Becamex Binh Duong and the national team throughout 2009. Meanwhile, the Bronze Ball title for 2009 was granted to another prominent goalkeeper in the national team – Bui Tan Truong, a member of Dong Thap Rubber Club.
The Outstanding Young Player award went to Nguyen Trong Hoang from Song Lam Nghe An and the title of Best Foreign Player was presented to Gaston Merlo of SHB-Da Nang.
As for the female awards, Doan Thi Kim Chi from Ho Chi Minh City Club won the 4 th Golden Ball title of her career, thanks to her successful return to Vietnam ’s national female squad which won the gold medal at the 25 th SEA Games.
Goalkeeper Dang Thi Kieu Trinh, Chi’s teammate and also the hero of the 25 th SEA Games final, took the Silver Ball. Third place went to the female squads captain Dao Thi Mien of Hanoi .
The Vietnam Golden Ball Award was initiated by the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Saigon Liberation) daily newspaper 15 years ago to honour the country’s most outstanding football players for their contributions to Vietnamese football over the year.
The competitions winners are chosen by football experts, coaches and soccer journalists.
The awards will be presented at a gala dinner in Ho Chi Minh City Theatre on May18 to mark the competitions anniversary./.
