Prime Minister: Football inspires patriotism, national pride

High praise: Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc shakes hands with the Việt Nam football team while hosting them and head coach Park Hang-搜索引擎优化 following their AFF Suzuki Cup  二0 一 八 victory. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Football inspired patriotism and national pride, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said yesterday while hosting the national football team and head coach Park Hang-搜索引擎优化 who won the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup  二0 一 八 last week.PM Phúc praised head coach Park, his trainers and the players for their efforts.

Thanking the PM for the great encouragement and support offered by the Government leader and Vietnamese people, Park said the triumph belonged to not only the team but also the entire nation.The AFF Cup was an important milestone, he said, but adding that he and the team had their eyes set on an Asian Championship. “The players and I will try our best to achieve this target,” Park said.The PM said he had high hopes for the national football team as well as the development of Vietnamese football.He asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to direct the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) to make necessary preparations in terms of policies for the head coach and the players to perform to their utmost at upcoming tournaments.The General Department of Sports and Physical Training has been instructed to look at a legal framework for the development of sports in general and football in particular.On this occasion, PM Phúc granted a Friendship Order to Park and a first-class Labour Order to the national football team.Nguyễn Quang Hải, the Most Valuable Player of the AFF Suzuki Cup  二0 一 八, received a second-class Labour Order, while  一 五 other members of the team were presented with third-class Labour Orders.The PM also bestowed certificates of merit on  一 七 members of the team in recognition of their contributions to the victory.At the event, Đỗ Quang Hiển, chairman of T T Group, announced a bonus of VNĐ 三 billion (US$ 一 二 八, 七00) for the team. — VNS