Brazilian legends arrive in Đà Nẵng

Coach Carlos Dunga, ex-player and world cup winner with Brazilian team, receives a warm welcome at Furama Resort Da Nang. The Brazilian legend team will be playing Vietnamese ex-players in a friendly match at Đà Nẵng City's Hòa Xuân Stadium on April 27. Photo courtesy of Furama Resort Da Nang

ĐÀ NẴNG — Brazilian football legend Carlos Dunga, who lifted the World Cup in 1994, was the first member of the Brazilian football legends team arriving at Furama Resort Da Nang in preparation for the friendly match against Vietnamese ex-players during the Brazil-Vietnam Football Festival 2024 on April 27.

The other Brazilian football legends, including Rivaldo, Edmilson, Kleberson, Giovanni, Zé Carlos and Paulo Sergio, will be flocking to the city’s resort in the evening as they have to warm up for the friendly match and series activities on April 27-28.

“As a part of the Brazil-Vietnam Football Festival 2024, we are honoured to welcome Carlos Dunga to Furama Resort Đà Nẵng for the first visit and football exchange event,” a source from the resort said.

“The Brazilian ex-star team will be staying at the resort during the two-day festival in celebration of the 35th anniversary of Việt Nam-Brazil diplomatic ties, and exchanging in sports, tourism and business between Đà Nẵng and Brazil.“ 

Coach Carlos Dunga had earned achievements with the Brazil national football team since he retired from playing as a national team member including Copa America Champion 2007; FIFA Confederations Cup Champion 2009; and World Cup Quarter-finals 2010.

According to the festival organisers, the Brazilian legends team would play with a team line-up including Kleberson, Giovanni, Edmilson, Paulo Sergio, Rivaldo, Ze Carlos, Igor, Renan, Wallace, Andrey, Vitor, Diogo, Caio and Alexsandro. The team will be guided by coach Dunga.  

Hòa Xuân Stadium in Đà Nẵng will host a friendly match between ex-players of Brazil and Việt Nam during the Brazil-Viet Nam football Festival on April 27-28. VNS Photo Công Thành

Meanwhile, Vietnamese team will call up players Lê Huỳnh Đức, Nguyễn Hồng Sơn, Lê Công Vinh, Nguyễn Minh Phương, Huỳnh Quốc Anh, Châu Lê Phước Vĩnh, Nguyễn Tiến Linh, Quế Ngọc Hải, Nguyễn Công Minh, Nguyễn Phương Nam, Hoàng Bách, Độ Mixi, Phạm Anh Khoa, Dương Hồng Sơn, Lê Hồng Đức and Đoàn Hùng Sơn.

The host team will be coached by Phan Thanh Hùng and Trương Văn Lợi.

The match will be played at the city’s 20,000-seat Hòa Xuân Stadium at 7pm. Teams of Brazil and Việt Nam will have an exchange with Vietnamese fans after the match till 9pm.

The Brazilian team and Brazilian Embassador to Việt Nam Marco Farani will join a reception by the city’s people’s committee on the morning of April 27.

The Brazilian legend team will also take part in the signing ceremony of tire distribution in Brazil and the US markets by Đà Nẵng Rubber Company and two partners, Uniformity Holdings Brazil and Oceanside One USA, in the afternoon.

Brazilian ex-stars will demonstrate free-football skills with the ball at the Đà Nẵng Rubber Company’s playing ground after the signing ceremony.

The festival’s organisers said the junior football tournaments including U-9, U-11, U-13 players from football academies in Asia will be played at Tuyên Sơn Sports Centre.

Meanwhile, the Brazil football Academy will be built at Đà Nẵng City's Hòa Vang district as part of the festival.

It is also the first time Đà Nẵng City and football fans join an exchange with Brazilian ex-footballers. VNS