VFF SECOND DIVISION KICKS-OFF TOMORROW

Following a conference to announce the tournament rules and the official draw ceremony recently, the 16 teams will be divided into three zones of North (Group A), Central Vietnam and the Southeastern region (Group B) and the Southwestern region (Group C).

Duong Nghiep Khoi, the deputy general secretary of the VFF and head of the organising committee, spoke highly of the role of Division 2 in the VFF’s national football competition system.

He said that initially, the Second Division was supposed to have 18 teams taking part but Military Region Nine and Red Beer Workers had not registered to join the championship.

The teams will compete on a round robin, home and away basis with the teams emerging as the three group leaders and the three best runners-up making the final round for the knock-out stage of the competition.

However, there will be no relegation for the team which emerged at the bottom of the table at the season while the winning team and the runners-up will be promoted to Division 1.

Prize money for the winner is VND 30 million while for the runners-up, it is VND 20 million.

GROUPINGS

GROUP A (NORTH): Ha Tinh, Can Gio Pharmacy, Quang Minh DEC, Sara Thanh Vinh and T&T Hanoi.

GROUP B (CENTRAL VIETNAM and SOUTHEASTERN): Binh Thuan, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dong Tam Long An Tile, Military Region Seven and Thanh Long.

GROUP C (SOUTHWESTER): Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Ho Chi Minh City Club, Kien Long Bank (Kien Giang) and Vinh Long.