Many quality foreign players in the national volleyball championship.

Phase 2 and the final round of the 2025 National Volleyball Championship promise to be very exciting as the teams have prepared thoroughly in terms of personnel, especially in the foreign player positions.

World- class hitter returns.

In the men's competition, Coach Duong Tan Vinh of the Ho Chi Minh City Police team announced the return of former Polish national volleyball captain Michal Kubiak. This hitter, who won the men's world volleyball championship with the Polish national team in 2014 and 2018, has played professionally in top leagues around the world.

In the first phase of the 2025 National Volleyball Championship held in March, Michal Kubiak, at the age of 37, still demonstrated his class by helping the Ho Chi Minh City Police team win all 5 matches. With a height of 1.92 m and an attacking jump of up to 3.47 m, Michal Kubiak is particularly effective in high-level attacks. In addition, this hitter also possesses powerful attacking serves and skillful ball handling. By retaining Michal Kubiak and possessing a quality lineup of domestic players such as Quan Trong Nghia, Pham Quoc Du, Nguyen Dinh Nhu, Tran Trien Chieu, etc., the Ho Chi Minh City Police team continues to be a strong contender for the championship title in their first season playing in the national championship.

World-class hitter Michal Kubiak in the colors of the Ho Chi Minh City Police team.

PHOTO: Ho Chi Minh City Police Club

The most formidable opponent for the Ho Chi Minh City Police team is the Border Guard Club, which has decided to field its familiar Thai foreign player, Jakkrit Thanomnoi. The Border Guard Club is considered a mini-Vietnam national team, boasting players like Nguyen Ngoc Thuan, Pham Van Hiep, Dinh Van Duy, and Tran Duy Tuyen. In the first phase, the Border Guard Club also achieved a perfect record of 5 wins out of 5 matches. Coach Tran Dinh Tien and his team are meticulously preparing to defend their championship title against fierce competition from the Ho Chi Minh City Police team.

Ambitious teams in the men's league, such as The Cong and Sanest Khanh Hoa, are also ready for the race in the second phase of the national championship. Sanest Khanh Hoa Club has successfully recruited Argentinian foreign player Federico Pereyra.

Concerns in the organizational aspect.

The competition in the second stage and the finals of the women's tournament is even more exciting than the men's. As of yesterday, 7 out of 8 women's teams had reached agreements to recruit foreign players. Notably, there have been foreign players from the US such as Roni Jones Perry of VTV Binh Dien Long An Club and Leah Hardeman of Thanh Hoa Club. In addition, there are athletes from Europe such as Miroslava Paskova (Bulgaria) playing for LPBank Ninh Binh Club, Irina Voronkova (Russia) joining the Information Corps team, Anna Belyanskaya (Russia) of the Industrial and Commercial Bank Club, and Helena Grozer (Czech Republic) joining Thai Binh team.

To upgrade their squads and enhance the quality and attractiveness of the national volleyball championship, Vietnamese clubs have spent considerable sums on recruiting foreign players, in addition to training and competition costs. The teams' schedules are based on the early plans of the Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV). Therefore, some teams are understandably worried, even frustrated, when the VFV changes the schedule for the second phase and the finals. Moving the schedule forward by three days puts some clubs in a difficult position, forcing them to adjust their accommodation, meals, and travel arrangements. Not to mention, they have to renegotiate with their foreign players due to the schedule changes.

The coach of a team participating in the tournament stated that Vietnamese volleyball is striving for professionalization, therefore, apart from unavoidable circumstances, the tournament schedule should not be changed as it would affect many other issues and demonstrate a lack of professionalism.

Phase 2 and the final round of the 2025 National Volleyball Championship will take place from October 7-16 in Ninh Binh. Eight teams will compete in the men's competition: Ho Chi Minh City Police, Border Guard, The Cong, Da Nang, Sanest Khanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Long An, and Hanoi. Eight teams will participate in the women's competition: LPBank Ninh Binh, VTV Binh Dien Long An, Information Corps, Industrial and Commercial Bank, Duc Giang Chemicals, Thanh Hoa, Thai Binh, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhieu-ngoai-binh-chat-luong-o-giai-bong-chuyen-vo-dich-quoc-gia-185250923211501529.htm