Brazilian abandons Hai Phong after one game

(25-06-2009)

HA NOI — World superstar Denilson de Oliveira on Tuesday cancelled his contract with the Hai Phong Cement Football Club after only one game in three weeks.

The Brazilian’s decision surprised club leaders and shocked national fans who expected to watch his form for at least three months.

Denilson, once the world’s most expensive player, scored a goal from a free kick in the first minutes of his only V-League appearance on Sunday to help Hai Phong beat former champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai 3-1 and halt a losing streak.

He sat out the second half when the coach decided a right leg injury was holding him back.

Thirty thousand supporters packed the Hai Phong’s Lach Tray Stadium earlier this month hoping Denilson would play in the first match after his signing. Instead, he sat in the stands while his team lost, stoking fans’ fury and leading some to burn stadium seats. He also missed a later game, angering expectant fans, before his debut on Sunday.

"I am a professional player. I know I am a big trademark and I did not come to Viet Nam to travel," Denilson, 31, was quoted as saying by Bong Da (Football) newspaper yesterday.

"But my injuries are more serious than what doctors first thought. I am not strong enough to play at present.

"I love and want to play football but I can not receive a salary without playing. When I came here and felt the strong sentiment of the fans here for me. I think that if I can not play, it is better to say goodbye.

"In the future, who knows, I may come back to Viet Nam and play for Hai Phong again. Now my biggest concern is to recover from my injuries so that I can be back to football."

Hai Phong executive manager Do Dai Duong said the club had to respect Denilson’s opinion.

"We don’t want to make difficulties for him. His recovery process is proceeding slowly so if we try to hold him it would be hard for Hai Phong as well."

What compensation the club paid for Denilson was not made public but according to local news reports Denilson received US$10,000 for three weeks in Viet Nam, plus $15,000 for his 50 minutes of play and one goal.

Denilson, a member of the Brazilian team that won the World Cup in 2002, held in South Korea and Japan, was the subject of a world transfer record in 1998 when he moved from Brazil’s Sao Paolo to Real Betis of Spain at the price of US$32 million. — VNS