Thewinner will be selected from midfielders Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Quang Hai, defender Doan Van Hau and striker Nguyen Van Quyet of Hanoi FC. Midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang of Viettel is the only one from another club to make theshortlist.
Dungis favourite for the prize after an outstanding season for both club and the country. The 2019 season saw Dung on thetop podium at the V.League 1, National Cup, Super National Cup, and the 30thSEA Games. Dung helped Hanoi FC becomethe first Vietnamese team to reach the AFC Cup’s Inter-zonal final.
Onthe women’s side, Phong Phu Ha Nam’s midfielder Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dungis expected to win the statue for the second time in a row. While othercandidates are Chuong Thị Kieu, Cu Thi Huynh Nhu andTran Thi Kim Thanh of HCM City and Pham Hai Yen of Hanoi.
Organiserswill also present award to futsal players, best young male and female playersand best foreign player of the year.
The GoldenBall Award is an annual competition organised by SaiGon Giai Phong (Liberated SaiGon)newspaper to honour individual players who contribute best over the year.
Normally, itis organised at the end of the year or early the following next. However,because there are many sport events that included football held in late 2019and early January 2020 as well as the coronavirus pandemic, the gala wasdelayed to May.
At the Gala,the organisers will also honour coaches Park Hang-seo and Mai Duc Chung forwhat they have contributed to national football./.