What are the hopes for Vietnamese football in 2023?
(Baonghean.vn) - As many people know, Vietnamese football in 2023 will see many changes in the competition system, as well as the names of the coaches of the U23 and senior Vietnamese national teams in the new year, before officially integrating into the continental and world competition systems.
Accordingly, the 2023 V-League will follow a two-round format: the first leg, followed by groups competing for medals and those relegated, before officially operating the 2023-2024 V-League season as is currently common practice. From the 2023 V-League onwards, there will still be V-League 1 and V-League 2, with 14 and 12 teams respectively playing a round-robin format with two rounds, as has been the case in many previous seasons.
But ultimately, the quality of the V-League is what's noteworthy, with the emergence of many new football "giants," and the simultaneous "cry for help" from these newly emerging giants amidst the slow economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and its real impact on the socio-economic landscape not only in Vietnam.
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The joy of Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates after scoring the goal that doubled the lead for the Vietnamese national team.Malaysia national teamPhoto credit: Hai Hoang |
The People's Police team, now known as Hanoi Police, making its debut in V-League 1, seems to be receiving a strong boost to become a real force in Hanoi football, rather than the familiar and somewhat boring name of Hanoi FC. Stars who were pupils of coach Park Hang-seo, such as Van Hau and Van Duc, are being "added" to Hanoi Police, evoking the image of a legendary team from the past, which once created famous derby matches at Hang Day Stadium between Hanoi Police and The Cong, a memory deeply etched in the minds of football fans in Hanoi.
Meanwhile, Nam Dinh, with its new investment, is also bringing in a host of talented players, continuing to evoke memories of the once-famous Ha Nam Ninh Industrial team. Hopefully, that's the case, but only time will tell if the young, promising coaches like Bao Khanh and Hong Viet can handle the task. And will the V-League 2023 championship title change, even if it doesn't fall outside the hands of a team from the capital city?
The team from the coastal city of Khanh Hoa has also just returned to V-League 1, but the reality shows that there hasn't been any major breakthrough since then. Although they may have once been considered a "dark horse" and contributed many talented players to the national teams, their typical image remains one of "fighting against relegation".
Teams teetering between relegation and survival are becoming increasingly common on the football map, including Khánh Hòa, Nam Định, Đồng Tháp, Sài Gòn FC… It's difficult to say which team will survive and rise again when their potential is limited and investment is weak, as seen in the teams that have just been mentioned.
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Coach Park held a quick meeting with the Vietnamese national team at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore. (Photo: Hai Hoang) |
While teams like Hanoi FC, The Cong, and Hai Phong are considered to be comfortable with their strategies,Lam River, Nghe AnMeanwhile, teams like Dong A Thanh Hoa are facing difficulties in the new season. The latest name to sound the alarm is, surprisingly, Topenland Binh Dinh, a "half-baked tycoon" who, after a season of extravagant spending and spending sprees, finished third in V-League 1 and second in the National Cup, but owes over thirty billion dong in salaries and bonuses! Hoang Anh Gia Lai, the team from the mountainous region, also fell apart after the last season, except for Kiatisuk, who agreed to stay on as coach…
To be clear, the doping tactics involving bonuses for a win to avoid relegation, like Nam Dinh, Dong A Thanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, etc., or for the gold cup like Hai Phong or Binh Dinh, are, if carefully considered, "anti-football" practices that break the usual "ceiling," disrupting the normal course of football. In the current difficult context, these kinds of "empty promises" need to be condemned immediately, and even regulated like how world football regulates financial fair play, even though people always find ways to circumvent it. The recent plea for help from Topenland Binh Dinh, although it has temporarily calmed down, cannot hide the bitter reality of opportunistic business practices in football, which inflate and then collapse without warning…
AfterAFF Cup 2022Regardless of success or failure in reclaiming the regional gold cup, Vietnamese football has concluded a successful era under coach Park Hang-seo. The next goal is higher and more specific than ever: a ticket to the 2026 or 2030 World Cup for the men's national football team. It is very likely that the names that recently appeared in the U21 tournament, and those recently announced during the national U20 training camp, will be the pillars of the squad aiming for that glorious mission.
Now, as the new year 2023 begins, it is hoped that Vietnamese football will become increasingly professional (with VAR technology, semi-automatic offside detection technology, etc.), with the maturation of organization, refereeing, fans, media, and youth training with modern methods, minimizing unnecessary incidents and steps that hinder overall progress. Continental football is making great strides at the recent World Cup, but whether regional football, including Vietnam as a leading player, can take another step in the continental race depends on actions taken hour by hour, day by day, with firm and fundamental principles. Only then can there be any hope.
