Flower variety blooms late
Coach Kim Sang-sik announced the list of 23 U22 Vietnam players participating in the 33rd SEA Games. The Korean coach described the personnel decision as difficult, as the 28 names in the training camp this time have similar qualifications.
Finally, Mr. Kim Sang-sik decided to remove the names of central defender Dinh Quang Kiet, Le Van Ha, midfielder Tran Thanh Trung, Nguyen Duc Viet and striker Bui Vi Hao.
Thus, after Van Truong left the SEA Games early due to injury, the U22 Vietnam midfield continued to decrease in competitiveness when Thanh Trung and Duc Viet had not yet affirmed themselves. Meanwhile, Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong, Nguyen Thai Son and Nguyen Xuan Bac will be the 3 permanent faces rotated in this position.
Compared to Quoc Cuong and Thai Son, Xuan Bac is not as famous. It was not until the 2025 U23 Southeast Asian Cup finals that he was given a chance to try out by the U22 Vietnam coaching staff. However, since this tournament, Xuan Bac has made rapid progress, been highly appreciated by experts and became a "main player" alongside Van Truong.
"I am not surprised that Xuan Bac is in the case of 'late blooming but brilliant'. He is a promising name at PVF-CAND. Xuan Bac has good technique, plays well with both feet and is quite versatile.
In the past time, Xuan Bac has made rapid progress waiting to regularly compete in the V.League and U23 Vietnam. He is now bolder and stronger. Xuan Bac's scoring ability has also increased significantly", said former player Mai Tien Thanh - who has worked for many years at the PVF Youth Football Training Center.
In V.League 2025-2026, Xuan Bac started 10 matches at PVF-CAND. In addition to 1 goal, he has an average of 1 pass in each match to create an opportunity for his teammates to score. Xuan Bac's ability to support the attack is also quite good, from crossing the ball to long passes.
In addition, Xuan Bac successfully recovered the ball 5 times/match. Xuan Bac's number of good ball disputes against opponents in each round also increased in a positive direction.
Witnessing his student's remarkable progress in just 5 months, coach Kim Sang-sik was satisfied. That is the reason he kept Xuan Bac and put his trust in the role of mid-line conductor.
A year ago, Mr. Kim was successful when he discovered a midfield named Doan Ngoc Tan in the national team. The Korean coach also hopes that Xuan Bac will be the next name to bring victory to U22 Vietnam at the 33rd SEA Games.
Outstanding products
The story of Xuan Bac also received the attention of fans after he played impressively in the 2025 U23 Southeast Asian Cup finals.
Born in 2003 in Phu Tho, Xuan Bac was trained at the PVF Center. He is an excellent product of the 4th quarter, soon revealing his personal playing ability, smart thinking and tactical sensitivity. Along with Hieu Minh, Xuan Bac has continuously started in the National First Division for the last 3 seasons and has also been in the typical squad for the 2024-2025 season.
One notable point is that Xuan Bac takes a good free kick, scoring many goals at set points. This player and PVF won the 2017 National U15 Championship, the 2018 ICC Cup (U15), the 2020 National U17 Championship, the 2020 National U19 Championship, 2021; and PVF from the 2019 National Third Division won the right to play in the 2020 National Second Division and then the ticket to the First Division, V.League now...
Xuan Bac is also a "werker" in the midfield. When coach Mauro was still working at PVF-CAND, he was always one of the players who moved the most thanks to his fitness foundation.
It would not be surprising if at the 33rd SEA Games, the midfield of U22 Vietnam had the appearance of Xuan Bac and Thai Son - two mobile faces, "plowing" tirelessly on the field.
