The SEA Games spirit burns brightly in the hearts of the Vietnamese national team.

YOUNG BAMBOO SHOOTS OF THE TEAM

When giving opportunities to two young players, Van Truong and Vi Hao (both born in 2003), in the September 2024 training camp, coach Kim Sang-sik said that it was necessary to nurture young talents because they are the future of Vietnamese football.

Bui Vi Hao matured through his experiences with the Vietnamese national team and Binh Duong Club.

While coaching Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Kim and his close friend Park Ji-sung (who served as technical director) boldly rejuvenated the squad. The decision to overhaul Jeonbuk towards the end of his tenure shows that the South Korean coach always pushed for change and was not satisfied with current success.

Coach Kim implemented a youth-focused approach upon arriving in Vietnam, with a series of young players such as Van Truong, Vi Hao, Dinh Bac, Thai Son, Van Khang, Trung Kien, Quoc Viet… successively joining the national team to prove themselves. It's understandable that only Van Khang and Vi Hao were given starting spots at the 2024 AFF Cup, as Coach Kim was under pressure to reach the final, leading him to trust experienced players for immediate success. Now, with the Vietnamese national team playing six Asian Cup 2027 qualifying matches in one year (from March 2025 to March 2026) against weaker opponents, the opportunity for Coach Kim to transition the generation and experiment with young players has arrived.

In the March training camp, coach Kim Sang-sik called up five U.22 players: Trung Kien, Ly Duc, Vi Hao, Van Khang, and Thai Son. All five players were born in 2003 and have proven their abilities in the V-League.

For goalkeeper Trung Kien, this is his first season as the number one goalkeeper for HAGL (14 starts in the V-League since the beginning of the season). The goalkeeper, with his ideal height of 1.9m, is becoming increasingly mature, his reflexes and judgment improving day by day thanks to facing the harsh realities of the V-League.

For Ly Duc, the record is 16 full matches played for HAGL as a central defender since the start of the season. He is the only player who hasn't missed a single minute for HAGL in the V-League 2024-2025 (always playing the full match), with a good physical foundation and physique, capable of competing on equal terms with foreign players. As for Vi Hao, Van Khang, and Thai Son, they have become familiar faces since 2023, having been mentored by former coach Philippe Troussier at the national team and U.22 Vietnam levels.

FOR THE FUTURE OF VIETNAMESE FOOTBALL

The five players mentioned above will form the central axis of the Vietnam U22 team in the U23 Asian qualifiers and the SEA Games. Identifying this central axis (including goalkeeper, center-back, midfielder, and forward) helps coach Kim Sang-sik define the playing style and core players, then build around them to complete the operational formula. The next step after finding the U22 framework is to integrate the young players with the senior players in the Vietnam national team so that the young players can learn and gain experience.

Alongside the U22 Vietnam team, currently coached by Dinh Hong Vinh, the U22 players in the senior Vietnam national team are like high-achieving students receiving advanced training, keeping the SEA Games ambition alive within the team. The U22 Vietnam team serves as a stepping stone for young talents to develop and advance to the senior national team, so these two levels are always closely linked in terms of personnel, playing philosophy, and goals.

Expert Doan Minh Xuong assessed: "Both the Vietnamese national team and the U22 team have big goals in 2025, so concentrating both teams and rotating personnel is necessary. The young players called up to the national team are all deserving, as they have played consistently and strived in the V-League. Coach Kim Sang-sik himself needs new elements to reshape the playing style and motivation for the Vietnamese national team, promoting competitiveness so that both the old and new generations strive their best. And to refresh the Vietnamese national team, this is the most suitable time, as the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers are spread out, making it convenient for Coach Kim to plan for the long term. Experience with the national team is also essential for young players like Vi Hao, Thai Son… to become more mature, so that when they return to the U22 team, they can take on more important roles and prove themselves in the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers and the 33rd SEA Games."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lua-sea-games-chay-trong-long-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-185250312224621549.htm