Saigon FC score multiple sponsorship deals ahead of 2021 V. League 1

The club inked multiple deals worth over VND100 billion ($4 million) with local and Japanese corporations at a ceremony Tuesday.

After Tran Hoa Binh replaced Vu Tien Thanh as new president of Saigon FC, the club had recruited players and advisors from the Japanese league ahead of the 2021 V. League 1 season, including former assistant technical director of FC Tokyo Shimoda Masahiro as senior advisor, and 39-year-old midfielder Daisuke Matsui as new team captain.

(From L) Saigon FC's newly signed players: South Korea's Woo Sang-ho, Japan's Takasaki Hiroyuki, Daisuke Matsui and Ryutaro Karube pose for photos at an event in HCMC, January 12, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Dang Khoa.

Binh said Saigon FC enjoyed a strong partnership with J-League clubs, which helped him bring over Japanese professionals and players from whom to learn.

"In the management and operation of Saigon FC this year, we will apply the Japanese culture of working. Through football we want to become a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Japan," he said.

He added local players would also have the opportunity to receive training in Japan.

Thanh, who remained as an advisor to the club, said: "Japanese players have adjusted well in the team. We hope the latest additions would help Saigon FC achieve great results during the next V. League 1 season."

With 34 points, the club finished third in 2020 V. League 1.

The new season is expected to kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday, with the first match between Duoc Nam Ha Nam Dinh and Hanoi FC at Thien Truong Stadium.

Saigon FC will play their first match against Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC on Sunday.