From the moment he took charge, coach Kim Sang Sik made clear his interest in recruiting overseas Vietnamese players, especially within the U23 age bracket.

Following Viktor Le, he also called up Tran Thanh Trung (Chung Nguyen Do) and Vadim Nguyen to participate in a key training camp in the UAE.

This move was not merely experimental. Coach Kim sees genuine potential in these players - from their modern football mindset to technical skills and tactical awareness. He views them as valuable additions who could enhance the U22 squad.

Opportunity vs. reality

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Coach Kim Sang Sik continues to give chances to overseas Vietnamese players like Tran Thanh Trung.

That said, being invited to train is one thing; making the final roster for SEA Games 33 is quite another - especially with the tournament rapidly approaching.

Among the three overseas Vietnamese players, Viktor Le appears to have the best chance. He was part of the U23 Vietnam team that won the AFF U23 Championship and has spent considerable time playing in Vietnam.

However, his influence on the team remains modest. As a midfielder for Ha Tinh FC, he performs reliably but hasn’t made a strong enough case to secure his spot - particularly with the potential return of the more dynamic Dinh Xuan Tien.

For Tran Thanh Trung and Vadim Nguyen, the challenge is even greater. While both are technically solid and tactically aware, their limited experience in the V-League is a clear disadvantage. They haven’t had enough exposure to the intensity and demands of Vietnamese domestic football.

Another concern is fitness. SEA Games matches occur every two to three days, and there are doubts about whether they can physically handle the packed schedule.

As a result, it’s quite possible that U22 Vietnam will head to Thailand without any overseas Vietnamese players in the squad.

The upcoming national team training camp in November could be the final chance for these players to prove themselves. Unless they can demonstrate a clear edge over their local peers, a SEA Games ticket will be hard to secure.

Duy Nguyen