Coach Tran Cong Minh: V-League is stuck due to financial dependence.
Coach Tran Cong Minh warned that the V-League is financially dependent and lacks professionalism; he called on the VFF, VPF, and clubs to be self-reliant, build their own identity, and improve youth training for the national team.
"The V-League's fatal weakness doesn't lie in on-field technique, but stems from its operating model: financial dependence and a lack of professionalism." This is a frank warning from former star player and coach Tran Cong Minh about the current situation hindering the foundation for national teams.
Bottleneck: Relying on Sponsorships
According to coach Tran Cong Minh, most domestic clubs still rely on investors or local budgets to survive. Many "professional football joint-stock companies" exist only on paper, while in reality they operate under the old model, being completely passive financially. He emphasized that this is the biggest obstacle to "football sustaining itself."
The consequence of this dependence is that the motivation to increase value is stifled: clubs invest less in commercial aspects, branding, and identity. When sponsors withdraw, once-famous teams disappear, leaving a void in both professional quality and audience confidence.
Standardization according to AFC and the role of the organizing body.
Another sore point highlighted by coach Tran Cong Minh is the failure to fully meet the standards of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). He said: "Many clubs have not met the standards of the AFC, but the VFF has to 'make an exception' in order to participate in the tournament."
The message to the governing bodies is clear: the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF), and the clubs need a qualitative change, not just technical adjustments. Standardizing criteria, strict enforcement, and synchronization from infrastructure and governance to finance are mandatory starting points.
Identity, audience, and the cycle of values
Coach Tran Cong Minh believes that to excel, football teams must create a distinct playing style and maintain a spirit of dedication and honesty. When the on-field performance is engaging enough, spectators will return to the stadium, commercial value will have a basis for development, and sponsors will then trust and partner with them long-term.
This is a cycle of value: professional quality and integrity attract the audience; the audience creates the market; the market helps the club diversify its revenue streams beyond pure sponsorship, gradually moving towards financial self-sufficiency.
Restructuring youth training programs in line with league quality.
According to coach Tran Cong Minh, improving the quality of the V-League and restructuring youth training are two sides of the same coin. A truly professional and financially independent league will create a solid foundation for academies and youth teams to receive continuous investment and have a long-term development roadmap. From there, the national team will be strengthened by a rich source of promising players who are already familiar with professional standards and discipline from their club level.
The reform roadmap: from the boardroom to the football field.
- Financial governance and transparency: setting clear criteria, publishing a roadmap to achieving standards, and reducing reliance on a single funding source.
- Implementing AFC standards: prioritizing infrastructure, academies, biomedical facilities, and standardized matchday operations.
- Club branding strategy: defining identity, enhancing the stadium experience, and developing the fan community.
- Competition culture: emphasizing dedication and honesty to strengthen audience trust.
- Linking youth training with the first team: creating a pathway to promotion, setting playing time limits for young players once they meet professional standards.
Long-term impact: the foundation for the national team.
Coach Tran Cong Minh's overall message is consistent: when the V-League is truly professional and autonomous, Vietnamese football will have a more sustainable foundation. A financially healthy league with high standards will nurture clubs, thereby providing a stable source of quality human resources for the national teams at all levels.
The reform he called for was not a short-term campaign, but a paradigm shift: from relying on sponsorship to self-reliance, from fluctuating standards to systemic discipline. Only then could the V-League stand firm and go far.
