'Japanese engine' for Vietnamese football?

For the first time, a V. League team boldly sent many good players to the most advanced football tournament in the continent, the J-League, to compete and learn.

But besides that, there are also many concerns because the story of exchanging players between clubs of V. League and J-League 1, 2 or 3 has been mentioned by the owner of Saigon Club but things have not gone anywhere, even subsided? Wasn't there information that Van Trien and Danh Trung were preparing to go to Japan but then went silent and the reason was said to be because of the Covid-19 epidemic? Now, not only 2 players but up to 4 clear names, is it possible that the "explosion" has increased in intensity, and where the matter will go, we will have to "see later" to know?

Vietnam team's first training session in Australia. Photo: VFF

First of all, cooperation and exchange between professional football teams in the integration period is inevitable and welcome. Whoever does it first and goes first will reap the first harvest and get the first results. Those results, of course, are mainly for the clubs that put in the effort and money to compete well and achieve the best possible results in V. League 1, 2, etc. After that, the national teams will benefit from outstanding players who have trained and competed in those advanced football backgrounds. The problem is that someone who has not done anything for their home club, only makes a grand declaration with many prospects, and immediately dreams of "merit" for the national teams, is too early, too hasty and too... unrealistic!

The next thing is that for a long time, the bosses who have real heart and power for the country's football like Mr. Duc and Mr. Hien have also done this important and necessary work, but it is not easy to succeed so they do not make big moves like others?

Everyone knows that Cong Vinh, Tuan Anh, Xuan Truong and Van Hau... were allowed to play abroad for a short time, before realizing that things were not really suitable, so they eventually had to return to find a "place to perform" abroad.V.LeagueThis is familiar. So, the story of 2 or 4 potential players of Saigon FC going to J-League 2-3 in the near future, in the end, is a normal exchange like any other daily work in football, of course we have to wait for time to have a definite answer?

The strikers of the Vietnam National Team (in white shirts) just had a disappointing AFF Cup. Photo: The Vu - VNA

In fact, to raise the level of Vietnamese football towards the highest goal of a ticket to the 2030 World Cup, for example, football strategists have long had to set out many problems that must be solved in a synchronous and satisfactory manner. But then a "cold bucket" suddenly poured on all the hot calculations was the unsatisfactory performance of the Vietnam National Team in the ongoing 3rd qualifying round of the World Cup. That result shows that there is still a large gap between the current Vietnam National Team in the successful cycle of the past 4 years and the general level of top football in the continent. Therefore, we have to "restart, renew" as Head Coach Park Hang-seo is doing, which is inevitable, if we do not want to be left behind.

Of course, the process of finding oneself at a higher level and class has many important and urgent tasks undertaken by the clubs, the most crucial of which is to improve the quality of all aspects of the players, from domestic training to overseas training and practice. If the work of Saigon Club achieves good results, it is commendable, other clubs should learn and follow, in addition to many other daily tasks according to the requirements and tasks set.

The ball dispute between players of the Vietnam Team (red shirts) and the Thailand Team in the first leg of the semi-final. Photo: VNN

In reality, learning and improving skills take place in many different ways. Studying abroad systematically and for a long time is a practical way, like the story of the entire The Cong football team going to North Korea or the Democratic Republic of Germany in the past. Most of the teams competing in the SEA Games have had training and competition abroad, during the Cold War as well as the integration period later. Studying in the country but under the direction and guidance of foreign experts seems to be a great advantage? Just look at the success of the U19 HAGL generation under the guidance of coach Grachen and the generations of students at PVF under the guidance of foreign teachers to clearly see the effectiveness of that appropriate approach. The remaining problem is to answer the question of why, with the same method of inviting experts and that advanced curriculum, some places are as successful as expected, while others are only "showing off" and "showing off even louder"?

The Vietnamese team holds a tactical meeting right on the training ground. Photo: VFF

So, in reality, desire and aspiration are one thing, but a feasible plan is another. Playing top-level football is not a matter of one or two seasons but a long-term career. It is not uncommon for managers to truly want to do something but are "powerless" as many people know. While football life never stops or is satisfied, requiring the non-stop movement of an entire machine, each football club must find its own path to the right and most suitable direction, including connecting, exchanging with each other, creating conditions for each other to develop.

For the past few years, Saigon FC has been pursuing the idea of ​​seeking strength from the “Japanese engine” which is basically correct because this is the most advanced football in the continent and they are ready to open the door for all goodwill to reach out. But for things to become real and have real results, it cannot happen overnight, as Saigon FC has been struggling for a long time? And maybe we have to anticipate the unexpected that will happen, as it has happened before, with the requirement of a different step, a different way of doing things, not only for Saigon FC?