Footballers in Vietnam, including former star players, have been busy bargaining for spots in football clubs for the coming 2014 season. In past years, they would be negotiating higher transfer fees and yearly wages, but things have changed since clubs have become entangled in the current recession.
Players are now accepting wages that are less than half the rate paid three years ago. The shutdown of two clubs, Cement Xuan Thanh Saigon and Navibank Saigon, proves that football players are facing desperate times.
In the 2014 season, no player has been transferred for over VND1 billion (US$48,100) a year. The only exception is that of midfielder Trong Hoang, who moved from Song Lam Nghe An to Becamex Binh Duong for VND7.5 billion ($360,600) on a three year contract.
Three years ago, VND1 billion to transfer a player was considered a small amount.
The transfer cases of the 2014 season prove the economic slowdown of Vietnam football.
Striker Viet Thang left Binh Duong for Dong Tam Long An and received a transfer of VND700 million ($33,700) for a one-year contract. Thang stated, “I had been paid VND16 billion [$769,200] in transfer fees for playing for Ninh Binh and Binh Duong over five years.
But now, clubs have begun tightening their pay for transferring players.”
International midfielder Tai Em came back to Dong Tam Long An with a transfer fee of VND600 million ($28,800) a year and a monthly salary of VND30 million ($1,400). Last season, his salary at Cement Xuan Thanh Saigon FC was VND50 million ($2,400) per month and his transfer fee was VND2.5 billion ($120,200) a year.
Defender Viet Cuong, midfielder Vu Phong, and striker Mac Hong Quan also lowered their demands for pay to confirm their places in the 2014 season.
Finding no club to work for, star center defender Nhu Thanh had to ask for permission to train with Da Nang to maintain his form and physical fitness.
Center defender Phuoc Tu and goalkeeper Phan Van Santos have also struggled to find a club.
Six players of Kienlong Bank Kien Giang lodged a suit at Kien Giang court after the club failed to pay their wages and transfer fees worth VND2.5 billion ($120,200) in total.
Similarly, Navibank Saigon FC owes coaches Pham Cong Loc and Phung Thanh Phuong VND700 million ($33,700).
Đăng ký: VietNam News
