The transfer market in the middle of the V-League 2005-06 season is open for just another week and teams are expected to reinforce their rosters with foreign players.

Although the transfer period began three weeks ago, so far no team has registered their new players because they were busy with the final matches of the first stage with the hope of improving their rankings before entering the decisive period of the season.

Foreign players have played an important role in boosting both the quality and the attractiveness of the top flight competition since they were first permitted to play on teams in 2000. And they are still proving their pivotal role in this season, taking all the key positions on most of the teams.

The other reason teams do not always opt for local players is they are wary of their teams getting involved in match fixing and gambling, following scandals involving national players late last year.

The suspension of many players and referees at the end of last season re-sulted in the near cancellation of competition this year.

Trading is expected to pick up this week as it is the last chance for the squads to make changes and strengthen their rosters, in which foreigners are expected to be the focus.

Pisico Binh Dinh's impressive run in the first half of the season was marked by the big contribution of Thai midfielder Issawa Singtong. But Issawa who helped Binh Dinh get six straight wins early in the season left the team just a few weeks ago.

Binh Dinh, which finished second behind Da Nang in the league's first stage last weekend, are pinning their hopes on a Senegalese player who has been training with the team for the last two weeks.

Hoa Phat Hanoi are also testing three foreigners. Hanoi, currently 10th on the table, have welcomed back their former Brazilian striker Jucelio Das Silva who returned to the team after an unsuccessful run in Egypt.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai, who won the V-League title two straight times, have also signed a contract with a former Thai player, Sakda, who played for the team in 2002-03.

Sakda was not successful with another league team, former HCM City-based Eastern Asia Bank (Dong Tam Long An Paint now), and found he did not enjoy competing in Indonesia and back home in Thailand as much as he had in Vietnam.

The Central Highlands team, which have been struggling in the league and are ranked just two steps above the bottom, are also looking for another Thai player to help them strengthen the midfield.

Mikado Nam Dinh are still having trouble with foreigners who can not stay with them for more than one season. Both Nigerian players, Amaobi Uzowuru and Achilefu, left the team after having conflicts with the organisers last year. This season, the foreigners have not made much of a contribution and the team had to end the contract with striker Aloui after just five games.

Nam Dinh have had two Africans and a striker from Germany Hansa Rostock in a test period over the last few weeks.

Other teams like Pjico Song Lam Nghe An, Pomina Tien Giang, LG-Hanoi-ACB and Misustar Haier Hai Phong are also searching for new foreign faces with the hope of sharpening their striking and strengthening their defence while reinforcing the midfield for the late half of the season, which promises to be tougher and more competitive.

(Source: Viet Nam News)