"We like the centralized format of this tournament because it is more convenient for fans to travel. In addition, weather, food, and competition schedule also affect the players' physical strength. Indonesia organizing the tournament at home is an advantage for them, but we have to adapt.
I used to work in Indonesia and learned a lot from the coaches there. I think I am still improving. I continue to study Indonesia to prepare for the match better. Indonesia has developed football for a long time and has changed a lot. Southeast Asia is also developing. The teams in the region are improving, and I believe we have the best preparation," coach Kim Sang Sik said at a press conference ahead of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament.
Talking about the U23 Vietnam squad at this tournament, coach Kim Sang Sik said: "Our biggest shortcoming is quality players. Therefore, the gap between the national team and the U23 team is not too big. We use many of the same players in both teams, trying to develop these young players to prepare for the future.
Our big goal is the SEA Games in December. I hope this tournament will be a good preparation for more important tournaments. I only have experience coaching the national team, this is the first time I work with the U23 team. The young players are more passionate, listen more. After two weeks of training, I see that they understand faster, have great motivation and improve every day."
"This tournament is very different from the usual tournaments, for young players so the competitive spirit is very important. The stronger teams are all formidable opponents. We need to be careful and prepare well. I have been following the Vietnamese players for the past two weeks. Some are not good enough to be on the national team, but if they perform well, they will have a chance. I am very interested in the players playing abroad," added coach Kim Sang Sik.
In the group stage, U23 Vietnam will meet Cambodia and Laos. Coach Ha Hyeok Jun (U23 Laos) said: "I think Laos is the weakest team. Even though we may lose, we came here to learn how to play football, accepting that we are inferior in terms of players and tactics, but the goal is to learn and improve. I hope the players gain valuable experience from this international tournament, develop themselves and bring that experience back to serve the country's football."
Meanwhile, coach Gyotoku Koji (U23 Cambodia) also emphasized that the tournament is a very good opportunity for young Cambodian players to learn, thereby developing in the future.
According to the match schedule, U23 Vietnam will meet U23 Laos in the opening match on July 19, and meet U23 Cambodia on July 22.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-noi-gi-truoc-giai-u23-dong-nam-a-2025-2421730.html
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