PVF-CAND's Southeast Asian U.23 champion: 'Not afraid of V-League foreign players'

Young center-back Nguyen Hieu Minh of PVF-CAND Club affirmed that he is not afraid of the pressure of competing against top strikers in the V-League.

'PVF-CAND has made serious preparations'

"Despite only having two weeks to prepare, my teammates and I have prepared seriously and with great enthusiasm for our first time in the V-League. My goal, along with that of PVF-CAND Club, is to play well in every match and strive to overcome the challenges ahead," central defender Nguyen Hieu Minh shared at the PVF-CAND Club's send-off ceremony.

Following the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 Championship victory with the Vietnam U.23 team, Nguyen Hieu Minh received unexpected good news when PVF-CAND secured a spot in the V-League. This marks the first time PVF-CAND has competed in the top tier of Vietnamese football.

Center-back Nguyen Hieu Minh (number 4) is a key player for PVF-CAND.

PHOTO: VFF

To prepare for the V-League, PVF-CAND Club has recruited many veteran players such as Do Van Thuan, Truong Van Thai Quy, Hoang Vu Samson, and Joseph Mpande, combining them with the familiar lineup from last season, including goalkeeper Phi Minh Long, center-back Nguyen Hieu Minh, midfielders Nguyen Xuan Bac and Huynh Cong Den, and striker Nguyen Thanh Nhan.

According to center-back Hieu Minh, preparing for the V-League season is not too different from preparing for the First Division.

"The V-League and the First Division are both part of Vietnam's professional football system, so the preparation process isn't much different. The only slight change is that this season PVF-CAND has foreign players, so the competition in training will be more intense," Hieu Minh shared.

Central defender Hieu Minh has proven his abilities at the youth level, winning the Southeast Asian U23 Championship with the Vietnam U23 team. The PVF-CAND player started 4 matches and scored 2 goals. He is an important piece in the three-man defense and is considered by coach Kim Sang-sik to have the potential to go far.

Last season, Hieu Minh also won the "Best Young Player in the First Division" award with 20 appearances for PVF-CAND. However, this season, Hieu Minh will no longer be competing against domestic strikers from the First Division, but will have to face renowned attacking players in the V-League, including many famous foreign players.

PVF-CAND enters the V-League with a youthful squad.

PHOTO: PVF-CAND

"Facing top-class players, including many foreign players in the V-League, is not a pressure for me. On the contrary, it's an opportunity for me to develop myself further, mature and improve by playing in a high-intensity environment with many top-class players like the V-League," center-back Hieu Minh answered a question from Thanh Nien Newspaper. "Every training session, every match will be an opportunity for me to strive and try harder."

Hoang Vu Samson: 'My ambition is to score 10 goals in the V-League'

Hoang Vu Samson is one of the most notable new signings for PVF-CAND Club in the V-League 2025-2026. Samson previously played for Hanoi FC, Dong Thap FC, Quang Nam FC , and Ho Chi Minh City FC (now Ho Chi Minh City Police FC). With 15 years in the V-League, Samson is the highest-scoring domestic player with 230 goals.

"The first and most obvious thing I noticed about the young players of PVF-CAND Club is their enthusiasm and energy. This is a team full of energy and fighting spirit," Hoàng Vũ Samson affirmed.

"At PVF-CAND, I'm still training and preparing seriously to adapt. I have my own ambitions, which is to score goals and bring success to the club. Samson will focus on his own duties."

Striker Hoang Vu Samson has also set a goal of scoring 10 goals in the V-League and will use his experience to support PVF-CAND. "With the preparation both physically and tactically, I am ready," Samson said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nha-vo-dich-u23-dong-nam-a-cua-pvf-cand-khong-ngai-ngoai-binh-v-league-185250812184004232.htm