Dinh Bac: Pressure is the motivation to shine at the U23 Asian Championship.
2025 Silver Ball winner Nguyen Dinh Bac affirmed his determination to help the Vietnam U23 team achieve the best possible results at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship after their first training session in Doha.
On the afternoon of December 27th (local time), the Vietnam U23 team officially kicked off their campaign for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship with their first training session in Doha, Qatar. This is a crucial preliminary stage before the entire team travels to Saudi Arabia to participate in the continental tournament.
Speaking at the opening training session, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac said that the entire team is maintaining a positive mindset and high concentration. The main striker of the Vietnam U23 team emphasized that thorough preparation in Qatar will be key to the team's best adaptation to the harsh playing conditions in the Gulf region.
Maximum concentration at the 'headquarters' in Doha
“We are very excited to enter the training phase in Qatar before heading to Saudi Arabia. This is a crucial stage, so everyone is focusing intensely,” Dinh Bac shared. This excitement stems not only from teamwork but also from the sense of responsibility of each individual in a young and ambitious team.
Having to adjust to a time zone four hours ahead of Vietnam is the first challenge that the U23 Vietnam team and their coaches have to face. However, according to Dinh Bac, this is not too big of a barrier for professional players. The whole team is actively adjusting their daily routines and rest schedules to ensure they are in the best physical condition for high-intensity training sessions.
The 2025 Silver Ball and the priority of teamwork.
2025 marks a major turning point in Nguyen Dinh Bac's career as he officially becomes the recipient of the Vietnamese Silver Ball award. Although unable to attend the awards ceremony on December 26th at the Ben Thanh Theater due to national duties, the striker born in 2004 still expressed his appreciation for this recognition.
Facing increasing expectations from fans, Dinh Bac affirmed: “I will train hard and maintain a healthy lifestyle to be in the best condition and form. For me, individual titles are a form of recognition, but the team's achievements are always the most important thing.” This maturity in mindset shows that Dinh Bac is ready to shoulder the responsibility of leading the attack for the Vietnam U23 team.
Test your mettle on the continental stage.
The 2026 AFC U23 Championship is not just a tournament, but also a true test of the abilities and character of this generation of players as they step onto the international stage. Dinh Bac sees this as an opportunity for the whole team to affirm the position of Vietnamese football on the Asian map.
On the sidelines of training, a special message of encouragement was also sent to Dinh Bac from coach Philippe Troussier. The French strategist has always highly valued the striker's potential and hopes that the Silver Ball award will be a springboard for him to shine even brighter in the future.
With serious preparation and high determination, the Vietnam U23 team is aiming for positive results, repaying the love and trust of fans at home in their upcoming journey in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
