'The spark' for sustainable development

A new definition of college football.

According to sports expert Pham Thai Vinh, head coach of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports team, the establishment of the Student Football Tournament is like "a refreshing rain after a long drought," meeting the huge training and competition needs of a large number of students with a passion for football. Professionalism is the first keyword that comes to mind when mentioning this tournament. The tournament is included in the annual and official competition system of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF). With the professional support of the VFF, every process from the draw, match supervision, referee supervision to the refereeing force on the field (including FIFA-level referees and assistant referees who have worked in the V-League) is carried out similarly to national football leagues. Especially, with a prize money of up to 300 million VND for the champion team, the competitiveness and seriousness of the teams have been pushed to the highest level.

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Beyond just the professional aspects, the logistics and media coverage of the tournament are also a highlight, contributing to its elevated status. The organizing committee takes care of the teams' meals, accommodation, transportation to training grounds and matches… Every moment on the field for the student players and coaching staff is meticulously captured through beautiful images, widely shared across various digital platforms. Yet, behind the fierce matches, the tournament retains the pure and innocent spirit of student life. "The criteria of 'Playing Fairly - Winning Fairly - Cheering Fairly' have created a philosophy that emphasizes responsible play, sportsmanship, victory reflecting true ability, and spectators becoming an integral part of the civilized atmosphere of the game. In my opinion, few student tournaments achieve such a high level of synchronization in terms of professionalism, organization, and cheering culture," emphasized Coach Pham Thai Vinh.

Investing in future generations

Football expert Doan Minh Xuong, Head of the School Football Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Football Federation, believes that school sports are the "foundation" of national sports: "Like a pyramid model, only when the foundation is wide and solid enough can the peak – which is professional football and the national team – rise high and become sharp." Asian football powerhouses like Japan and South Korea have developed school and university football systems. Many players from these two countries have grown up from university-level teams. In Vietnam, the Thanh Nien Newspaper tournament is striving to create a similar ripple effect. The "spark" from the Thanh Nien Newspaper will ignite the movement, leading to a change in the perception of schools: to participate well, they must have a well-organized team; To have a strong team, you need a regular training plan, investment in facilities, fields, etc. Gradually, this synergy from many schools and localities will become a habit, creating a true school football ecosystem.

However, according to expert Doan Minh Xuong, investing in school sports to discover talent for national sports is only addressing the "symptoms," while the more important aspect is developing the physical fitness of Vietnamese people. "Football must be used as a tool for human development. Investing in sports in general, and student football in particular, is investing in the human resources of society, in the future generation of the country. Through training and competition, students, the young intellectual generation, not only improve their physical fitness to study better but also cultivate invaluable 'soft values' such as discipline, teamwork, and the ability to withstand pressure," Mr. Xuong emphasized.

In the context of a country undergoing transformation and deep integration, a healthy student body, both intellectually and physically, is a pressing requirement. This integration is further demonstrated through the International Student Volunteer Program (established in 2025 and about to enter its second season in 2026), with the participation of universities from Southeast Asia and promising to expand to Asia in the near future.