Hanoi (VNA) -Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai has been nominated for the ASEAN YoungPlayer of the Year by the prestigious sports newspaper, fourfourtwo.com.

The online website shortly describes 20-year-old Hai’s journeysince 2015.

Hai is called the “king of youth tournaments” as he has won allnational championship titles for youth. He joined the first team of Hanoi FC at18 and soon became a key player.

He has also been a regular face in the national U19, U21, U22and U23 squads as well as in the senior team.

He was a key player to help Vietnam win the bronze medal at theAFC U19 Championship in 2016.

Last year, Hai joined Vietnam at the U20 World Cup in theRepublic of Korea (RoK), a milestone for the country at the global level.

He is a regular scorer and has scored important goals for theU22 matches. He got off the mark for the senior team against Cambodia at the2019 Asian Cup qualifiers in September.

Last month, he contributed immensely to Vietnam’s silver medalat the AFC U23 Championship, and one of his goals was voted the most impressivegoal of the tournament.

Hai will have to vie for the ASEAN award against four othercandidates. They are Malaysian strikers Akhyar Rashid and SafawRasid, Thai left-back Kevin Deeromram and right-back Jakkit Wechpirom.

In the category of Best Player of theYear, Fourfourtwo has nominated Vietnamese midfielder Dinh ThanhTrung.

Trung, 29, had a stellar year as he helped Quang Nam win theunexpected V.League trophy in the 2017 season. He also received the Golden Ballas Vietnam’s “best player of the year”, scoring 10 goals in the league.

Besides highlighting the 29-year-old player’s major role in theclub’s maiden victory, the newspaper also said the pint-size internationalplayer was a delight to watch, with his control of the ball getting him swiftlypast opponents. He is also good with set-pieces and is an excellent passer ofthe ball.

To take the award, Trung will have to beat Thailand strikerTeerasil Dangda and attacking midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, forward Aung Thufrom Myanmar and Indonesian goalkeeper Andritany Ardhiyasa.

According to Fourfourtwo,Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines are the top nominees for the BestNational Team of the Year.

About the Vietnamese team, the newspaper said: “The Vietnameseside has undoubtedly made great progress in recent times, but is stillstruggling to take that final, significant step.

“After topping their group at the 2016 Suzuki Cup, they thenbowed out in the semi-finals to Indonesia, a common trend for the Golden Stars.

“But having secured their qualification for the 2019 Asian Cupin the United Arab Emirates, with an unbeaten record with one fixtureremaining, they will have another chance to get themselves on a podium on thecontinental stage.”

This is the first time Fourfourtwo has held these awards for the ASEAN region.-VNA