Recently, goalkeeper Nguyen Filip and his father met at the hotel where the Vietnamese team stayed in Viet Tri, Phu Tho. The goalkeeper born in 1992 sat and talked with his father for a long time, his face showing many emotions.
Mr. Nguyen Minh - Filip's father - encouraged and motivated his son, and hoped that the goalkeeper of Hanoi Police could return to compete in the upcoming final match of ASEAN Cup 2024.
Previously, Nguyen Filip did not have many opportunities to play with the Vietnamese team at the Southeast Asian Football Championship. After 6 matches, Filip only started 2 matches against Indonesia and the Philippines in the group stage. The rest, he was a reserve for teammate Dinh Trieu.
Before the second leg of the semi-final between Vietnam and Singapore, the camera caught Filip deep in thought in the team's cabin, looking into the distance. Afterwards, he also walked on the field with indescribable emotions.
After the match, Filip smiled and joined in the bustling atmosphere of the stands. He also proactively asked about Van Thanh's injury and discussed professional matters with Thanh Long.
Filip's father said that many people asked him about the Vietnamese-American goalkeeper not being given the opportunity to play. However, he understood that this depended on the head coach's tactics. As a father, he only encouraged Filip to try harder, to practice hard to be ready to play at any time.
According to the schedule, the Vietnamese team will play the first leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup final at Viet Tri Stadium at 8:00 p.m. on January 2, 2025.
