The loss to the Philippines in the 33rd SEA Games final on the evening of December 17 left the Vietnam women's team with only a silver medal. This is also likely to be the end of the strategist born in 1949's long-term commitment to the national women's team.
The 33rd SEA Games clearly reflects the current situation of the Vietnam women's team in the transition period. The team still maintains organization, discipline and competitive spirit - factors that have become a mark under coach Mai Duc Chung. Against the Philippines in the final, the players played tightly, controlled the game well and created many opportunities.
In more than two decades of association, coach Mai Duc Chung has built a solid foundation for Vietnamese women's football, with many SEA Games championships, AFF Cup 2019 women's title and especially a ticket to the 2023 World Cup. These achievements contribute to making the Vietnam women's team one of the leading forces in the region.
The fact that coach Mai Duc Chung may part ways with the Vietnam women's team if this happens will open an important transition period. The problem for the Vietnam Football Federation is to choose a suitable successor, both ensuring professional inheritance and motivating innovation for the national team to adapt to the rapid development of regional women's football.
