What hope for Vietnamese football in 2023?

Accordingly, there will be a V-League 2023 in a 2-round format: First leg, then divided into medal groups and relegation groups, to then officially operate the V-League 2023-2024 as is commonly done today. And from this V-League 2023, there will still be V-League 1 and 2, with all 14 teams and 12 teams competing in a 2-round round-robin as has happened in many previous seasons.

But after all, the quality of V-League is what is worth noting when many new football "giants" appear, and at the same time there are "cries for help" from the newly emerging giants in the context of slow economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and the real consequences affecting the socio-economy, not only in Vietnam.

The joy of Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates after scoring the goal to double the gap for the Vietnamese team beforeMalaysia teamPhoto: Hai Hoang

The first football team to be promoted to V-League 1, the People's Public Security, now the Hanoi Public Security seems to be receiving strong support to become a real force in the capital's football, not the familiar and boring name of Hanoi FC for a long time. The star students of Mr. Park Hang-seo such as Van Hau, Van Duc... are being "supplemented" to the Hanoi Public Security, recalling the image of a famous football team in the past, which created famous derby matches at Hang Day Stadium. Hanoi Public Security - The Cong always leaves a deep impression in the memory of football lovers in Hanoi.

Meanwhile, Nam Dinh, with new investment resources, is also calling here a series of good players, continuing to recall the famous football team of the past, Cong Nghiep Ha Nam Ninh. Hopefully so, but only after getting into the game will we know whether young, potential coaches like Bao Khanh, Hong Viet... can "take on" the task or not? And perhaps, the V-League 2023 championship will change, even though it may not fall outside of a team in the capital?

The coastal city team of Khanh Hoa has just returned to V-League 1, but in reality, there has been no major breakthrough since then. Although they may have been considered a "dark horse" at one point, and have contributed many talented players to the national teams, "fighting against relegation" is still a typical image.

The “fragile” teams between relegation and relegation are appearing more and more on the football map, including Khanh Hoa, Nam Dinh, Dong Thap, Saigon FC… It is very difficult to say which team will survive and rise when the potential is poor and investment is weak like the names that have just been scored.

Coach Park had a quick meeting with the Vietnamese team at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore. Photo: Hai Hoang

While the teams that are considered to be confident with all calculations such as Hanoi FC, The Cong, Hai Phong,Lam River Nghe An, Dong A Thanh Hoa… there are many names that have been and are having difficulties in the new season. The latest name to be called for help is strangely the “half-season tycoon” Topenland Binh Dinh, after a season of shopping and spending freely, with the result of finishing 3rd in V-League 1, 2nd in the National Cup but owing more than 30 billion VND in salary and bonuses! The mountain town team Hoang Anh Gia Lai also “disbanded” after the last season, except for Kiatisuk agreeing to stay on as coach…

To see, the doping of bonuses for a win to stay in the league like Nam Dinh, Dong A Thanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City... to compete for the gold cup like Hai Phong or Binh Dinh, if carefully considered, are "anti-football" ways of doing things, breaking the usual "ceiling", causing disturbance to football life. In the current difficult context, these "blank" ways of doing things need to be condemned promptly, even regulated like the way world football regulates financial fair play, although people always find ways to sneak in and overcome. The recent cry for help from Topenland Binh Dinh, even though it was temporarily quieted down, still cannot hide the bitter reality of the quick-fix ways of doing business in football, which keep on increasing, increasing and then falling apart without notice...

AfterAFF Cup 2022This time, whether successful or not in regaining the regional gold cup, Vietnamese football has ended its successful cycle under Mr. Park Hang-seo. The next goal is set at a higher and more specific level than ever: a ticket to the 2026 or 2030 World Cup for the men's football team. It is very possible that the names that have just appeared in the recent U21 tournament, the names that have just been announced in the recent U20 national training session will be the pillars in the squad to carry out that glorious mission.

Now, as the new year 2023 begins, it is hoped that Vietnamese football will be operated more and more professionally (with VAR technology, semi-automatic offside technology, etc.), with the maturity of the organization, the referee team, the fans, the media, and youth training with modern methods, minimizing unnecessary incidents and steps that are not beneficial to the common progress. Continental football is making great strides at the recent World Cup, but whether regional football, including Vietnam as the leader, can "move" any further in the continental race or not, must start hour by hour, day by day, and act firmly and fundamentally to bring about possible hope./.