Dong Thap registers coach Ngo Quang Sang, with Thanh Binh as assistant.
Prior to Round 7 of the 2025 First Division League, Dong Thap registered Ngo Quang Sang as head coach, with Phan Thanh Binh stepping down as assistant; the team is ranked 11th out of 12 teams with 3 points and is about to play away against league leaders Khanh Hoa.
A coaching reshuffle just before Round 7: Dong Thap registered former Long An FC coach Ngo Quang Sang as head coach, while Phan Thanh Binh stepped down to the role of technical assistant. This move aims to halt the team's decline, as the team from the West only has 3 points after 6 rounds, ranking 11th out of 12 and close to the bottom group.
Dong Thap to change coach ahead of Round 7 of the 2025 National First Division League.
On the afternoon of November 6th, Mr. Ngo Quang Sang arrived at Cao Lan Stadium to take over the coaching duties. According to information from the team, the official contract between the two parties has not yet been signed due to remaining clauses that need to be agreed upon. It is expected that the two sides will work together after Round 7 to finalize the two-season contract, with the immediate goal being to avoid relegation.
Phan Thanh Bình, who replaced coach Bui Van Dong, did not achieve the expected results. Dong Thap earned only 3 points from the first 6 matches of the 2025-2026 season (3 draws, 3 losses), ranking 11th out of 12 teams and only one point ahead of bottom-placed Thanh Nien Ho Chi Minh City.
Background performance: 3 points after 6 rounds, pressure to avoid relegation.
The 1-1 draw with PVF-CAND Youth was seen as the final straw that led the team's leadership to decide on a change in senior personnel. With three winless matches and a precarious gap to the bottom of the table, stabilizing the coaching staff became an immediate priority.
Key highlights from the opening series
Three draws were too little to meet the need for improvement. The remaining three defeats showed the team lacked consistency in terms of playing style and results. In this context, the expectation placed on coach Ngo Quang Sang is to help Dong Thap stabilize their playing style and improve their performance.
First challenge: playing away against Khánh Hòa at the August 19th Stadium.
The immediate test is very tough: Dong Thap will travel to the August 19th Stadium to face league leaders Khanh Hoa. Khanh Hoa are leading with 15 points and maintaining consistent form, making this away match a clear test of the effectiveness of the changes on the coaching bench.
A brief overview after 6 rounds.
| Team | Location | Point | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dong Thap | 11/12 | 3 | 3 draws, 3 losses |
| Ho Chi Minh City Youth | 12/12 | 2 | One point behind Dong Thap |
| Khanh Hoa | 1 | 15 | Currently leading, in consistent form. |
Contracts and objectives
Dong Thap affirms its determination to change in order to avoid relegation. The draft two-season contract between the team and Mr. Ngo Quang Sang will be discussed after round 7. In the short term, the new head coach's task is to create an immediate effect on the team's playing style and fighting spirit, before the difficult schedule is resolved by the result at the August 19th Stadium.
