NEW SPONSOR FOR NAM DINH

The National Cup holders were previously under the sponsorship of Mikado.

The deal between the northern side and Nam Phu My, a fertiliser company whose major shareholder is PetroViet Nam Group, is for the next three years.

The team will also benefit from the open contract, in which Nam Dinh will get an extra 20 per cent of the sponsorship money if they win the V-League title for the 2007-2008 season.

However, the contract also specify that should Nam Dinh finished the season out of the top five in the league, then they will be a reduction in the amount of sponsorship.

IN THE MEANTIME, Pisico Binh Dinh and Southern Steel Sai Gon Port took semi-final berths in the Quang Trung Emperor Cup at Quy Nhon Stadium in central Binh Dinh Province.

Hosts Binh Dinh drew Huda Hue 1-1 while Southern Steel Sai Gon Port edged Nam Dinh 1-0 to get one step closer to the finals in Group A.

Binh Dinh, who had home advantage, was shocked by an early goal just half hour into the game when Hue striker Nguyen Van Trung footed a cross from his teammate into the net from close range.

After the break Binh Dinh’s coach Duong Ngoc Hung, sent four key players into the field to sustain the team’s offensive power.

Ten minutes from the final whistle, striker Washington shook off his Hue marker to sink teammate Van Dung’s cross into the net.

In an earlier match, Brazilian striker Elenildo De Jesus scored from a spot kick in the 64th minute to take his Southern team to the semis.

The Emperor Cup has eight teams competing in a round robin tournament with the two top teams from each group going through to the semi-finals.

The tournament serves as a useful warm up ahead of the V-League and First Division season, which starts next month.