Bright signal for Vietnam team

VHO - After two years struggling with a heel injury, Doan Van Hau has been officially registered by CAHN Club to compete in the second leg of V.League 2025/26. His timely return not only helps CAHN strengthen its defense in the sprint race, but also opens up hope for the Vietnamese team in the journey to prepare for the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup.

A more stable version

Two years of treatment for a heel injury is a long time for a player at his peak like Doan Van Hau.

The prolonged absence has left the left flank of both CAHN Club and the Vietnam national team lacking a stable option, especially in times when certainty and battle prowess are needed. Therefore, the announcement that CAHN registered Van Hau to play from the second leg of V.League 2025/26 has created special attention.

CAHN's caution is understandable when it comes to a player who has been through a long and complicated recovery.

However, what Van Hau showed in training sessions, in internal matches and especially the friendly match with Lion City Sailors in Singapore showed that he was ready to return to the speed of V.League. Being given the captain's armband in that match was not only a test, but also showed the Coaching Board's belief in his leadership ability and influence in the dressing room.

Van Hau's return is good news for CAHN and the Vietnamese team.

CAHN's homepage describes him as a "heavy weapon" in the sprint phase - a rarely used phrase, showing the expectations the Capital team places on this comeback.

CAHN aims for the parallel goals of maintaining a competitive position in the V.League and preparing well for regional tournaments. For both of those goals, Van Hau is the optimal solution on the left flank.

The most noticeable thing about Van Hau is his certainty in every move. He does not get caught up in the pace of the game but always maintains a mature, proactive approach. His ability to choose a position, analyze situations and maneuver in tight spaces shows that he still retains the qualities that make him his trademark.

His rhythm of climbing the sidelines has not yet returned to the same level as before the injury, but the accuracy in each cross or open pass still ensures high reliability.

Importantly, he showed he has the physical foundation to handle 65 minutes of continuous play against Lion City Sailors, a moderate but necessary test for someone returning from a long-term injury.

Assistant coach Pham Thanh Luong said: “If he had registered at the beginning of the season, he would have been able to play immediately”, reflecting the 26-year-old player’s methodical recovery process and determination. A career that was once at risk of being interrupted is now being resumed thanks to perseverance and a serious attitude towards the profession.

This return is not simply a matter of physical strength. In Vietnamese football, players returning from serious injuries often face considerable psychological pressure. The fact that Van Hau overcame two challenging years to return to the field at a time when CAHN needed him most shows a respectable professional spirit.

More options for the team

In the context of the Vietnamese team being in the process of rebuilding under coach Kim Sang-sik, Van Hau's return has special meaning. The left flank is a position where the team has lacked truly experienced and stable faces since Van Hau was injured.

In the past year or so, this position has found a viable option, with the maturity of Nguyen Van Vi. However, Van Vi is quite small and offensive, so the return of Van Hau, in case he reaches his peak form, is necessary to strengthen the left wing of the defense.

In addition, this player born in 1999 can also play well the left position in a 3-center-back formation, a position that the Vietnamese team's defense has not yet found an optimal solution for.

If he continues to improve his form at CAHN, the possibility of him being called back to the national team in the March training session to serve the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup is completely realistic.

With proven physique, football mindset and international character, Van Hau is still the type of defender that fits the modern playing style that the team is aiming for: solid in defense, strong in collision and knows how to join the attack at the right time.

Of course, to return to the top, Van Hau needs more time. He must get used to a higher competition density, find the explosive acceleration and the best ball feeling in high pressure conditions.

But the important thing is that his foundation is still there. And this return comes at a time when CAHN needs a defensive fulcrum, and the Vietnam national team needs an experienced face to support the next generation.

Van Hau's return is not only positive news in terms of skills. It also suggests a story of perseverance, of how a player who once faced a big challenge could overcome and return at the right time when Vietnamese football needed him.

For CAHN, it is a necessary addition to their ambitions to compete in the second leg of the season. For the national team, it is a valuable option. And for the fans, it is a reminder that football always has room for beautiful comebacks, where will and professional spirit are put before all else.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/tin-hieu-sang-cho-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-183866.html