Thai media react to Vietnam U22 team's 40-minute training session in Bangkok.
Traffic congestion caused coach Kim Sang Sik and his team to arrive at RBAC University nearly 30 minutes late, forcing them to shorten their training session to 40 minutes before the SEA Games 33. SiamSport immediately spoke out.
Prolonged traffic congestion in Bangkok meant the Vietnam U22 team only had 40 minutes for their first training session, right before the 33rd SEA Games. The traffic incident caused the team to arrive nearly 30 minutes late, forcing the coaching staff to shorten the training plan to ensure they stayed on schedule.
The crucial moment
On the afternoon of December 1st, the Vietnam U22 team was scheduled to arrive at RBAC University Stadium at 5 PM to familiarize themselves with the pitch and weather conditions. However, traffic congestion in the Thai capital caused the team to arrive nearly 30 minutes late. The training plan was shortened: the players only had time for light warm-ups and stretching for about 40 minutes before returning to the hotel.
Thai media reacts
Immediately after the incident, the Thai press paid special attention to the preparations of the Vietnamese U22 team. SiamSport stated: "Traffic jams meant the Vietnamese U22 team only had 40 minutes to train before their opening match against Laos." The attention from the host country's media reflects the influence of the Vietnamese team in the context of the upcoming SEA Games 33.
The preparation context of the Vietnam U22 team.
VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu said that traffic difficulties in Bangkok had been anticipated and the whole team maintained good spirits. He emphasized that preparation for the 33rd SEA Games was a continuous process: from training camps in China and Qatar to winning the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and achieving a perfect record in the 2026 Asian U23 Championship qualifiers.
Professional perspective
This training session was designed to familiarize participants with the pitch conditions and weather, so shortening it meant limited time to get a feel for the grass, the rhythm of the ball, and the playing conditions. With a workload focused only on warm-ups and cool-downs, the emphasis was on maintaining the rhythm of movement and stabilizing mental composure before moving on to higher-intensity tests in the following days.
Impact before the match against U22 Laos
The Vietnam U22 team will play against Laos U22 on December 3rd. According to the team's management, the entire squad maintains high concentration and aims to start the SEA Games 33 with a convincing victory, thereby confirming their consistent performance after a lengthy preparation period.
Quick statistics
- Training time: 5 PM on December 1st
- Location: RBAC University (Bangkok)
- Late: nearly 30 minutes due to traffic.
- Actual duration: approximately 40 minutes (warm-up, cool-down)
- Opening match: Vietnam U22 vs Laos U22, December 3rd
