Hanoi Police FC faces a life-or-death challenge at the AFC Cup on the second day of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse).
Coach Mano Polking and his team are determined to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) away from home in order to advance further in the AFC Champions League 2, facing Tampines Rovers in the second leg on the second day of Tet.
The 2025-2026 AFC Champions League 2 season is entering a crucial stage. To realize their ambition of progressing deep into the continental competition, coach Mano Polking and his players at Hanoi Police Football Club (CAHN) have decided to postpone their Lunar New Year holiday to focus entirely on this historic goal.
A grueling schedule throughout the Lunar New Year of the Horse.
According to the official schedule for the round of 16, the Vietnamese football representative will begin their journey with the first leg match against Tampines Rovers at Hang Day Stadium on February 11, 2026 (the 24th day of the 12th lunar month). This is a crucial match for CAHN to gain an advantage before traveling to Singapore.
Notably, the crucial second leg match will take place away from home on February 18, 2026, which coincides with the second day of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse). Playing away from home during the most sacred time of the year is a huge psychological and physical challenge, but the entire team is showing high determination to bring home a New Year's gift for the fans.
Tampines Rovers' rivals: Not to be underestimated.
Despite suffering a heavy 1-6 defeat in the Shopee Cup in early February, Tampines Rovers' true strength remains a big question mark. In that loss, the Singaporean team rested many key players to focus their efforts on the Asian competition. In the AFC Champions League 2 group stage, Tampines Rovers caused a sensation by winning Group H, and also defeated strong South Korean opponent Pohang Steelers.
The Singapore team boasts a high-quality squad, notably former Japanese international Yuki Kobayashi and attacking star Faris Ramli. This will undoubtedly be a tough test for coach Mano Polking's defense.
The ambition to surpass expectations of the CAHN stars.
For CAHN, hopes are being placed on foreign star players like Leo Artur and Alan Grafite, along with a squad of experienced national team players. The goal of the police team is not only to advance, but also to erase the painful memories of the heavy defeats suffered by Vietnamese representatives in the continental arena last season.
The meticulous preparation and the willingness to sacrifice personal enjoyment to train throughout the Lunar New Year holiday demonstrate CAHN's great ambition. If they advance past the round of 16, it will be a new historical milestone for the team in Asian competitions.
