The Lao Football Federation is proud to announce that Vietnamese Company Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) Group will be coming on board as a sponsor for 2 years.
HAGL Group, a diversified company headquartered in Pleiku, Vietnam, will be sponsoring the federation with USD 200,000, supporting mainly the coaching staff for the National men’s football team.
Pic: Key personnel from HAGL and the Lao Football Federation at the signing ceremony on October 4, 2012
HAGL is a dedicated football supporter. In Vietnam, it finances the V-League football club Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club and the HAGL-Arsenal JMG Football Academy.
The company is enthusiastic about supporting elite football activities in Laos.
“Vietnam has always had good relations with Laos. We are delighted to be able to further develop this brotherhood by supporting the Lao Football Federation as we believe strongly in the development of football in the two countries,” said Mr Nguyen Van Minh, Vice Director of HAGL.
The Lao Football Federation has invited Japanese Nationals Mr Kiyoshi Sekiguchi and Mr Kokichi Kimura to be the Lao Football Federation’s Technical Director and National Men’s team Head Coach respectively.
Mr Sekiguchi, equipped with an AFC Pro Diploma Coaching Licence, was previously the Head Coach and Technical Director for the Northern Mariana Island Football Association from 2010-2012.
Mr Kimura, a former striker for Yokohama F. Marinos, took over as manager in 2008 and helped the team recover to a ninth-place finish as well as the Emperor's Cup semi-finals.
“We are thankful to have HAGL supporting the Lao Football Federation. With their support, we are able to raise the level of our national team with the employment of a world class technical director and coach,” said Dr Xaybandith Rasphone, General Secretary of the Lao Football Federation.
This is not the first time HAGL has supported the Lao Football Federation.
From 2008-2010, HAGL supported the federation to help it prepare for the 2009 Southeast Asian (SEA) GAMES held in Vientiane, Laos.
The Lao National Men’s team are currently in Yangon, Myanmar preparing for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 Qualifiers, to be held from 5- 13 October.