Men's Football SEA Games 30: A Season Without 'Stars'

Center back Tran Dinh Trong (U22 Vietnam)

The Hanoian player was unable to join Coach Park Hang-seo and his team in winning the Gold Medal in men's football at the SEA Games held in the Philippines from late November to early December this year. Not recovering from an injury in time was the reason why Trong "In" had to miss the biggest sports festival in Southeast Asia. With his proven class, the absence of the 1997-born central defender will significantly affect the strength of the team led by Mr. Park.

Center back Tran Dinh Trong. Photo: Archive

Tran Dinh Trong is a mainstay of the U23 Vietnam team at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, the Vietnam Olympic team at the 18th Asian Games and the Vietnam National Team at the 2018 AFF Cup, the tournament in which the “Golden Star Warriors” won the Championship. It can be affirmed that Tran Dinh Trong is one of the best central defenders in Southeast Asian football in recent years. Not being able to participate in the 30th SEA Games is a great loss for Trong “In” personally, the U22 Vietnam team and the country’s football fans.

Midfielder Safawi Rasid (U22 Malaysia)

Malaysian football experts and fans were extremely surprised when Safawi Rasid was not allowed to participate in the 30th SEA Games. The player of Johor Darul Ta'zim Club is considered the brightest face of Malaysian football at the moment. The midfielder born in 1997 was the owner of a double goal, helping the Malaysian team defeat the Indonesian team with a score of 2-0 in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Asia region (on November 19). Safawi Rasid was also the player who scored the equalizer 2-2 for the Malaysian team, in the first leg of the 2018 AFF Cup final.

Midfielder Safawi Rasid (No. 11). Photo: FAM

Speaking to the press, U22 Malaysia coach Ong Kim Swee said: “This is a difficult decision for me, but Safawi Rasid needs to rest, after a series of continuous matches for the national team and club this year, he has played too many matches. I think someone like Safawi Rasid will understand my decision. I also hope everyone will understand. In terms of skills, if Safawi Rasid is named in the list for the SEA Games, the opportunities for other players will be smaller.”

Midfielder Ekanit Panya (Thailand U22)

With a knee injury suffered in the match between Thailand and Vietnam in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Asia region (on November 19), the player born in 1999 had to say goodbye to SEA Games 30 with regret. Losing Ekanit Panya right before the tournament seriously affected coach Nishino Akira's plan. Firstly, U22 Thailand only has 19 players left for the upcoming matches (coach Nishino Akira did not register a reserve like coach Park Hang-seo with the case of Phan Van Bieu).

Midfielder Ekanit Panya. Photo: FAT

Second, the strength of the "war elephants" will be significantly affected. The midfielder currently playing for Chiangrai United Club is considered the most promising talent in "golden temple" football at the present time. Although only 20 years old, Ekanit Panya is already a mainstay of the Thai National Team, under coach Nishino Akira. In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Asia region, Ekanit Panya scored 1 goal, which was the goal to raise the score to 2-1 in the match between the Thai National Team and the UAE National Team.

However, with the presence of Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Tien Linh, Doan Van Hau, Bui Tien Dung (U22 Vietnam), Supachok, Supachai, Suphanat (U22 Thailand), Irfan Fandi, Ikhsan Fandi (U22 Singapore)... and "stars" over 22 years old such as Nguyen Trong Hoang, Do Hung Dung (U22 Vietnam) or Evan Dimas, Zulfiandi Masuk (U22 Indonesia)... the men's football of SEA Games 30 will not lose much of its appeal, due to the absence of Tran Dinh Trong, Safawi Rasid and Ekanit Panya./.