Vietnamese football joins hands to support flood victims

By Hoang Nguyen October 21, 2020 | 05:51 pm PT

The organizers of the V. League 1 game between Viettel FC and Becamex Binh Duong put money in the donation box to show support for central Vietnam on October 19, 2020. Photo courtesy of Viettel FC.

Domestic football players and clubs are donating money to aid those affected by historic flooding in central Vietnam.

Before the V. League 1 fixture from October 18 to 21, Vietnam Football Joint Stock Company, the players and clubs have commenced a donation campaign for central Vietnam, where locals are fighting historic flood levels.

Donations were made before the third fixture of V. League 1’s second phase and V. League 2 matches, set for October 18 to 21. All donated funds will be sent to Vietnamese Fatherland Front for distribution.

Previously, forward Nguyen Van Toan of Hoang Anh Gia Lai donated VND50 million ($2,154) to central Vietnam. He said the money came from his own business. Star striker of HCMC FC Nguyen Cong Phuong also donated all the money he received for being V. League 1’s player of the month in July and September, which was VND10 million.

Two players of Becamex Binh Duong, Nguyen Tien Linh and Tran Huu Dong Trieu took part in a charity match with other celebrities in HCMC, raising VND550 million in the process.

Veteran striker Nguyen Anh Duc, who recently came out of retirement to rejoin the national team, donated VND50 million.

"Central Vietnam has encountered many disasters, with life there becoming more and more challenging. Our support and sympathy are now needed more than ever," Duc wrote via Facebook.

Other players like Nguyen Quang Hai, Doan Van Hau, and Bui Tien Dung auctioned signed jerseys to raise funds.

V. League organizers have placed donation boxes inside certain stadiums for fans and players to support relief efforts in central Vietnam.

Coach Park Hang-seo of the men's national team has also donated to the cause.

On Tuesday, Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) revealed it had received VND200 million from staff to aid people in the disaster zone. VFF said during the past few days, it and other league organizers launched several campaigns to support flood victims in central Vietnam.

National Basketball League (VBA) organizers announced Tuesday all money collected from ticket sales between October 21 and November 4 would go to central Vietnam.

Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces were hardest hit by relentless downpours the last fortnight, which have triggered floods and landslides that killed at least 111 people.