Powerhouse Binh Duong eager to win the title this season. Photo:VFF

Nhan Dan Online- The V- League tournament will start on Sunday, January 31. This is the biggest football championship in Vietnam.

The V-League, which ranked 76th among top 100 National Leagues in the world according to the recent report by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), draws the participation of 14 teams. They include: Da Nang, Binh Duong, Song Lam Nghe An, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Dong Tam Long An, Hai Phong, T & T Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, Lam Son Thanh Hoa, Nam Dinh, Dong Thap and NaviBank Saigon and two newcomers: Ninh Binh and Hoa Phat Hanoi.

14 teams have had five months to prepare for the tournament. According to experts, it is not easy for defending champions Da Nang to win the championship this season as they must compete in the V-League, the National Cup and AFC Cup and their top scorer Jose Almeida is absent due his knee injury.

Meanwhile, Binh Duong with three best scorers Alves Kesley (2005 season), Amaobi (2004, in Nam Dinh club) and De Jesus (2006 and 2007 in Saigon Port) are eager to win the V- League 2010 title. T & T Hanoi set their target to be in top three while Song Lam Nghe An and Ninh Binh are strong enough to make a great surprise this year.

Nam Dinh and Dong Thap are in the group who will struggle to avoid relegation. Hoa Phat Hanoi and NaviBank Saigon may join this group.

According to the fixture, Hoa Phat Hanoi will take on T & T Hanoi in the  derby at Hang Day stadium tomorrow. The others matches are : Lam Son Thanh Hoa – Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa – Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Nam Dinh- Dong Thap, Ninh Binh – Dong Tam Long An, Song Lam Nghe An – NaviBank Saigon. Defending champions Da Nang will play against Hai Phong on February 3.

With the teams’ quality players and thorough preparation, the V-League 2010 will likely be attractive.

By Duy Thinh