Cao Pendant Quang Vinh: "I am very happy to wear the Vietnam National Team shirt"
Overseas Vietnamese rookie Cao Pendant Quang Vinh shared his sincere and emotional thoughts on his first call-up to the Vietnam National Team, preparing for the important match against the Malaysian Team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
On the afternoon of June 1, the Vietnam National Team entered the third training session in preparation for the match against Malaysia in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia. In a serious but exciting atmosphere, new Vietnamese-American player Cao Pendant Quang Vinh appeared for the first time in the National Team jersey and quickly attracted attention.
Right in the first time joining the team, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh could not hide his joy and emotion when sharing about this special feeling: “I feel very happy to be here. I am really excited to practice and compete with my new teammates. This is a great opportunity and I cherish every moment”.
The player born in 1997 also said that he was asked by head coach Kim Sang-sik right in the first meeting:
“Coach Kim asked me if I was feeling tired because I had just competed a few days ago. He said that if I was not feeling well, I could rest to stay in the best shape for the upcoming match. I was very grateful that the coach was concerned about my feelings and health.”
Recalling the moment he heard the news that he was called up to the National Team, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh could not hide his emotion: “At that time, I was at the airport with Filip Nguyen when he told me: "Your name is on the list, congratulations". I immediately replied: "Really? Show me!". When I saw my name on the official list, I was very happy. I couldn't stop smiling because I was so happy".
Sharing more about his family's reaction, the player with mixed French and Vietnamese blood said: "My mother was very emotional when she heard the news. She cried with joy and told me to do my best for the Vietnam team. That was a great motivation for me to try harder."
Although he only has 10 days to get acquainted with the team and prepare for the match, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh is very confident: "I will adapt quickly. Time is not a big problem. I will try my best to integrate and show my best ability."
When asked about the difference between the environment at the Hanoi Police Club and the National Team, he said: “There is not much difference. Here, everyone is very friendly and open. I feel like I am in a real family. Everyone welcomes me, talks happily, making me feel close and easy to integrate.”
Cao Pendant Quang Vinh's first impression of head coach Kim Sang-sik was also very positive: "Coach Kim is a very good person. From the beginning, he cared about my feelings. I believe that he will be a good coach and inspire the whole team."
Sharing his feelings when wearing the Vietnam National Team uniform for the first time, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh confided: “I took a lot of photos when I received the team uniform. I sent it to my family right away. That feeling was so special, to the point that I still find it hard to believe I am here. I didn’t even know my jersey number, so today I just looked at it for the first time.”
In this training session, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh will compete for the left-back position with Nguyen Van Vi, a player who is in good form for Nam Dinh Club and the National Team. With experience playing in Europe and the V.League environment, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh's presence promises to bring many new tactical options to the Vietnam National Team.
