As the Head of the Delegation, accompanying the Vietnam Team at the ASEAN Cup 2024, how do you view the journey of the Vietnam Team at this year's tournament?
- The championship has proven the efforts of coach Kim Sang-sik and his team. Besides, I highly appreciate the team built under the Korean coach.
After a month and a half, the Vietnamese team is as close as a family. There is no distance or distance between the coaching staff and the players. The whole team always gathers together and has fun in every activity, without any formality. Although they come from different clubs, they always like each other and are comfortable.
To achieve that, we must mention the role of the executive committee. Captain Duy Manh did very well because he is mature and sociable. The same goes for the two vice-captains Quang Hai and Tien Linh. Tien Linh, although a Southerner, plays comfortably with the Northern players. Being able to have fun like that helps the team spirit extremely well.
Mr. Kim Sang-sik also experienced the life of a player, and was very rebellious, so he understands his students very well. Therefore, this coach is very good at psychological work. He makes the players feel very secure. Even when they are not on the field, each person is always ready.
Striker Nguyen Xuan Son is mentioned as an important factor in the success of the Vietnamese team. But to achieve this, it is impossible not to mention the decisive strategy of VFF on using naturalized players at this stage. Can you discuss more about this?
- Naturalization is now a trend that no one can resist. VFF still determines that youth training is the most important. If there is too much naturalization, youth training will be affected. We cannot rely on naturalization. Naturalization must be reasonable and to a certain extent.
Personally, I also think we should use Xuan Son appropriately. Overusing him might not be good. Look at Indonesia, they use a whole team of naturalized players because they want results. We will not do like them, we cannot destroy the entire youth training foundation. This year, the SEA Games will be an arena for young players to continue. If we do not give them a chance, the national team will be flawed.
In the ASEAN Cup 2024, the teams of the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand all have the mark of young players. Meanwhile, the young faces of the Vietnam team have not shown much. Are you worried about this?
- I am not worried because this is the national team, not the youth team. It is the right of the coaches of other teams to choose who to compete. It is impossible to justify that they did not win the championship because they did not bring their strongest squad. The Vietnamese team is serious about the tournament and serious about the fans. We cannot bring young players to experience this tournament. This is an official tournament so we must bring the strongest squad, the best for the team. I have emphasized above, we still focus on youth training and the 33rd SEA Games will be the place for them to show themselves. I believe in the VFF's strategy as well as the preparation of the team's coaching staff.
From the case of Xuan Son, fans have positively welcomed the strategy of opening the door for naturalized players. Is that another success besides the ASEAN Cup championship title?
- Yes. It was a success. The timing of Xuan Son's appearance was very appropriate. He has a different skin color but is very sociable. Xuan Son's personality helps this player integrate quickly. In the national team, Xuan Son lives like a Vietnamese person, there is no difference.
Naturalize Xuan Son and then bring him to the national team, it will be much easier for other naturalized players to join the national team in the future. Fans will no longer have discrimination or conflicting opinions.
Besides Xuan Son, is VFF targeting any other naturalized players?
- Currently, Jason Quang Vinh Pendant of Hanoi Police Club is a potential player. He is quite young and plays in the position that needs reinforcement, which is the full-back position left by Doan Van Hau. Although VFF has provided a lot of support, many factors are needed for Van Hau to recover and return. This is a very difficult case.
If we have Quang Vinh, I think Van Hau's vacant position will be filled, which is good for the team. However, we still have to consider whether Quang Vinh is suitable for the coach's tactics or not. If so, he will definitely be called. Currently, the Hanoi Police Club is promoting to start applying for naturalization for Quang Vinh.
Of course, to have more naturalized players, clubs need to be proactive and determined to propose and introduce them.
Football brings inspiration to society, but it is time for Vietnamese football to reach new heights. This is a goal that VFF has clearly defined since the beginning of its term. What is VFF's plan for the future, sir?
- The first goal is to maintain our achievements in the Southeast Asian region. With the love of our fans, we cannot fail. We must determine to maintain this achievement, but it will certainly not be easy. The Vietnamese team has entered the third qualifying round of the World Cup, so next time we must continue to be determined to do it again.
The goal of Vietnamese football is to enter the Top 16, Top 10 of Asia on the World Football Federation (FIFA) rankings. This requires a long-term plan. Besides, we need many more factors, first is financial resources, second is the sustainability of the clubs, third is the infrastructure must be ensured to develop sports in general, football in particular.
Typically, in the ASEAN Cup 2024, without the support from Hanoi and Nam Dinh clubs, it would be very difficult for us to have such a strong team. For football to be successful and reach new heights, all factors must be in sync.
