Eight candidates were Thursday shortlisted to run for the presidency of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), among which banking mogul Le Hung Dung emerges as a brilliant candidate.

However, five of the eight nominees have rejected the job.

The remaining include Le Hung Dung, CEO of Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) and Eximbank and deputy president of the VFF; Pham Van Tuan, deputy chief of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training; and Le Khanh Hai, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports And Tourism.

“Brilliant candidate to hold the presidency of the VFF must be a prestigious, high-ranking official in the government, or businesspeople who is able to earn money for the football agency,” said VFF president Nguyen Trong Hy.

From now till April 10, local clubs will also nominate officials for the VFF’s Executive Board of the 7th term from 2013-17 which comprises 23 persons.

The 23 persons of the board will then vote for the president and deputy presidents of the VFF at a meeting that is scheduled to take place June 5.