Twenty-five players will vie for the 2019 Golden Ball award for best Vietnamese footballer of 2019 after organisers announced the nominees on December 16.
From left to right: Defender Doan Van Hau, striker Nguyen Cong Phuong, midfielders Nguyen Quang Hai and Do Hung Dung and defender Que Ngoc Hai are nominees for this year's Golden Ball title (File photos)
Hanoi (VNA) - Twenty-five players will vie for the 2019 Golden Ball award for best Vietnamesefootballer of 2019 after organisers announced the nominees on December 16.
Of those, Nguyen Quang Hai is the favourite for the contest which is organisedannually by Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper.
Midfielder Hai, last year's winner, has been tipped for glory dueto his stellar season for his club Hanoi FC, the national team and theU23 squad. The ASEAN Football Federation named him Southeast Asia's topplayer for the year just weeks ago.
He will go up against players including his club teammate Do Hung Dung andhis captain Nguyen Van Quyet.
Striker Quyet is back in the running after a two-year absence that hesuffered due to a ban for violent conduct. He was voted thebest player of double-winning Hanoi FC in 2019, but has fallen out of favourwith national team coach Park Hang-seo.
One surprising nominee is forward Nguyen Cong Phuong who plies his trade forBelgian side Sint Truiden FC but has been restricted to a single cameosubstitute appearance for the senior team since signing in July.
However his performance at the Asian Cup where he scored three and assisted twogoals helped him secure the nomination.
Other players vying for the title are midfielder Nguyen Tuan Anh of Hoang AnhGia Lai, forward Nguyen Tien Linh of Becamex Binh Duong, defenders Que NgocHai of Viettel and Doan Van Hau of Hanoi and Heerenveen SC sinceSeptember and striker Ha Duc Chinh of Da Nang.
In the contest for the best female footballer, midfielder Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dungof Phong Phu Ha Nam, defender Chuong Thi Kieu of HCM City, striker Cu Thi HuynhNhu of HCM City and striker Pham Hai Yen of Hanoi are among 10 nominated.
Players such as defender Hau, midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc of Viettel andgoalkeeper Nguyen Van Toan from Hai Phong will vie for best young maleplayer.
Other titles to be voted for are best young female player, futsalplayer and foreign footballer.
Organisers have sent voting cards to 190 football officials, managers,pundits, coaches, captains and journalists.
A shortlist will be revealed on December 31 and the awards ceremony willbe held in HCM City on February 13./.
VNA
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From left to right: Defender Doan Van Hau, striker Nguyen Cong Phuong, midfielders Nguyen Quang Hai and Do Hung Dung and defender Que Ngoc Hai are nominees for this year's Golden Ball title (File photos)