Coach Ikeuchi has called up the 1.95m tall 'giant' Dinh Quang Kiet to the Vietnam U19 team in preparation for the Southeast Asian tournament.
HAGL's central defender Dinh Quang Kiet leads the list of 41 Vietnamese U19 players who have gathered in Hanoi, ready for their journey to conquer the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship.
The Vietnam U19 team has officially begun its preparations for the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship, with the highlight being the emergence of "towering" Dinh Quang Kiet. Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi is striving to build a solid defensive framework based on players with superior physiques to aim for continental goals.
The power of Dinh Quang Kiet's 1.95m height as a 'weapon'.
Among the 41 players called up this time, Dinh Quang Kiet is the name receiving the greatest expectations from the coaching staff. The central defender, who plays for HAGL, possesses a height of 1.95m – an ideal and rare statistic for Vietnamese youth national teams at all levels.
Dinh Quang Kiet is not only strong in aerial duels but also possesses a modern defensive mindset. This player once made a big impact by demonstrating his ability to successfully track and neutralize striker Xuan Son in the domestic league, proving his mettle against experienced opponents.
Personnel issues and challenges for coach Yutaka Ikeuchi
Despite having assembled in Hanoi, coach Ikeuchi is facing a shortage of players. Due to scheduling conflicts with domestic leagues and school commitments, many key players such as Bao Ngoc, Gia Bao, and even Dinh Quang Kiet himself have not been able to join the team from the beginning.
The shortage of players forced the Japanese coach to adjust the training plan. The coaching staff prioritized maintaining fitness levels and reviewing experimental options for new players before finalizing the optimal lineup for the crucial final stages of the season.
Preparation roadmap for the Southeast Asian Games and Asian qualifiers.
According to the pre-planned schedule, the Vietnam U19 team will continue training in Hanoi before heading to Japan for a training camp from May 18th to 26th. This is considered a crucial test for coach Ikeuchi to finalize the official squad for the regional tournament.
Immediately after their training camp in Japan, the entire team will travel to Indonesia to participate in the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship, taking place from June 1st to 15th. This is not only a competition for the title but also a crucial stepping stone for young players to gain experience for the upcoming 2027 Asian U20 Championship qualifiers.
