In the list of 23 U23 football players for the final round of the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, there are five young football players from the youth training system of Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center (Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports) before joining Hanoi FC and Saigon FC. There are also two other football players playing for Hanoi FC. Their success is also the most obvious archievement of the investment in youth football training in Hanoi, including the Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center (Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports) and the Hanoi Club in the last tens of years.
Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung awarded the Certificate of Merit to the National U23 team’s football players in Hanoi
- Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai
At this time, the contribution of midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai on the victory journey of U23 Vietnam team at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship is remarkable. He is one of the “best” products of Hanoi football. His talent was discovered at the age of 9 and he has been trained by the coaches at Hanoi Football Club (Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center, Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports) before transferred to Hanoi T & T (now known as Hanoi FC). For a few years, the attention has been paid to Quang Hai when he attended the youth tournaments and gradually become the leader in the national youth team. Following the success of 2016 AFC U-19 Championship – when he and his team took U19 Vietnam to semifinal round for the first time, Nguyen Quang Hai has increasingly advanced in his career. He is one of the midfielders who play regularly in the field in Hanoi.
In the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, Quang Hai scored five goals – an unprecedented achievement of a Vietnamese players in the U23 Finals, four of which are outside the 16.50m line. Up to 3/5 goals of Nguyen Quang Hai ranked the most beautiful goals in the finals. Notably, most of Quang Hai’s goals contributed to winning of the U23 Vietnam in the matches against U23 Australia and U23 Qatar. In addition to scoring, Quang Hai also contributed significantly to the way of playing thanks to the surge in ball handling and the ability to participate in continuous defense. So certainly, he was featured on the finalists’ list of Fox Sports Asia.
- Centre Defender Do Duy Manh
He, born in Lien Ha commune (Dong Anh) same to Quang Hai (in Xuan Non commune, Dong Anh) is famous earlier than Quang Hai in the U23 teams as well as the national team. Duy Manh’s career is also quite stable with his starting point from the Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center (Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports) before he was transferred to Hanoi T & T. Formerly known as a midfielder with the good skill of ball recovery, but recently, Duy Manh has played role as centre defender. Taking over the national U23 team, Coach Park Hang-seo continues to rely on Duy Manh as a Centre Defender in every tactical scheme he wants to apply.
At the M-150 Cup in late 2017, Duy Manh made some personal errors, creating a lot of anxiety. But Park Hang-seo still believes in him and then, in the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, he had the best league since starting his career of footballer. Duy Manh’s calm, precision stealing ability and clever tackling phases have contributed to the stability of Vietnam’s defense despite the fierce competition in every game. In the whole tournament, Duy Manh had to leave for only one time due to his injury, in other matches, he have played to the last minute. Everything have shown the important role of this player in the U23 Vietnam team.
- Midfielder Pham Duc Huy
Having attended many international tournaments but until friendly match in the M-150 Cup as well as the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, Pham Duc Huy really confirmed his position in the national U23 team. He, born in Hai Duong, has been recruited and trained in Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center (Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports) when he was a child. He is famous for his versatility since he can play well as midfielder and defender. But until 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, he paired with Xuan Truong in the midfield under the assignment and trust of Coach Park Hang-seo. The presence of Duc Huy helped Xuan Truong concentrate more on creating and regulating the playing way of U23 Vietnam, contributing to the balance in the midfield. Duc Huy attended all Vietnam U23 matches and ranked one of the most stable players.
- Centre-back Nguyen Thanh Chung
He, playing for Hanoi FC and also growing up from the Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center (Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports), takes advantage of all opportunities at 2018 AFC U-23 Championship to confirm his ability although he is called later than many teammates. At the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, Nguyen Thanh Chung often sat on the bench. However, Nguyen Thanh Chung often completed his duties thanks to his strong body and physical strength as well as his good ability to fight and choose his position. In fact, thanks to his regular presence in Hanoi FC, Nguyen Thanh Chung has progressed rapidly in the past two years which helps him always get trust.
- Centre-back Tran Dinh Trong
The player, born in Da Ton Commune (Gia Lam) was trained in Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center before transferred to the Hanoi Club to attend the Vietnamese National Football First League. Unlike four teammates above, Tran Dinh Trong go to Saigon to join the Hanoi club (after renaming into Saigon FC) when he was unable to secure his official position in Hanoi T&T. In Saigon FC in the past two seasons, Tran Dinh Trong played excellently in the middle position and was called to join U23 Vietnam team. In the final round, Tran Dinh Trong competed in all six matches with U23 Vietnam. After a bad start and making mistakes that led U23 Vietnam to be lost in 1-2 score against U23 South Korea , Tran Dinh Trong played stably in all following six matches, contributed to the victory of U23 Vietnam.
- Defender Doan Van Hau
Doan Van Hau, born in Thai Binh, was discovered from the children’s tournments and trained in Hanoi T & T club. The development of Doan Van Hau is the best example for the effectiveness of the Hanoi T & T (known as Hanoi FC). Doan Van Hau was called in the national U19 team, and then the national team and U23 national team. In the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, Doan Van Hau won to attend the official tournament in all three matches in the group stage. The biggest impression that the defender made was the ball rolling and then transferring back to Quang Hai to score in the U23 Vietnam – U23 South Korea match. In all three matches, Doan Van Hau still retains his quite comprehensive ability of attack-defense and create peace of mind in the left corridor of U23 Vietnam. But his injury caused by the preparation for the quarterfinals with U23 Iraq has made Van Hau out until the end of the tournament. However, he still rank to have a successful tournament based on his performance throughout the group stage, contributing to U23 Vietnam to win tickets to the quarterfinals for the first time.
- Midfielder Truong Van Thai Quy
The player, starting from PVF, then transferred to Hanoi FC since the 2017 season won to attend the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship with the U23 Vietnam team. However, in this tournament, Truong Van Thai Quy often sit on the bench since Thai Quy is an alternative for the regular players thanks to his versatility. However, the Coach Park Hang Seo also highly appreciated the sense of team-building of the on-bench players due to tactical requirements of the team, such as Truong Van Thai Quy. Despite no presence in the field, clearly, his spirit and profession, even on the training ground, also contributed significantly to the success of U23 Vietnam team.
Minh Thuy