Gia Bao praised Nguyen Xuan Son, told the story of receiving the news of being selected for the national team
New recruit Khong Minh Gia Bao shared his feelings on the first day in Laos with the Vietnamese team, thanked coach Van Sy Son, admired Dinh Trong and praised striker Nguyen Xuan Son.
The first training session of the Vietnam team in Laos on the afternoon of November 16 marked the first time Khong Minh Gia Bao participated at the national team level. The new recruit of the CAND Club of Ho Chi Minh City did not hide his emotions and especially praised striker Nguyen Xuan Son during this training session.
Praise for striker Nguyen Xuan Son
When asked about Nguyen Xuan Son's return, Gia Bao chose to emphasize his senior's quality: "Obviously, Xuan Son is a very good player. He has proven that in the V.League and when he joined the national team. Although Xuan Son has just returned, his form may not be at its best, but training with him helps me learn a lot."
On the first day working together on the team, the fact that a rookie set his senior as a professional role model shows the positive competitive environment in the current squad.
Message from Tien Linh and the moment of being called
The turning point came faster than expected. Gia Bao recounted: “After the match against Da Nang, the next morning when the team moved to the airport, Tien Linh texted me saying that someone from the Federation asked for my phone number. At first I thought it was a joke, but then I found out it was true, I was both surprised and happy. I felt very happy.”
Immediately, he called his parents to tell them the news, receiving a smile and a short congratulations. That simple support ended the series of nervous moments before he attended the afternoon practice session on November 16.
Paying tribute to coach Van Sy Son, whose role model is central defender Dinh Trong
Gia Bao expressed his gratitude to Coach Van Sy Son - who used to coach him at Quang Nam Club and opened up the opportunity to play as a starter, creating a foundation for him to advance to the national team. In shaping his personal playing style, he also frankly shared about his role model: "I watched him play a lot and learned a lot. I see that Dinh Trong is not a person with a very large physique, but he still has the nickname 'Western hunter', so I really admire him."
The fact that a rookie center-back sets the standard from the composure and ability to read situations of an experienced senior is an interesting suggestion for his adaptation journey at the team level.
Schedule before the match against Laos
The Vietnamese team will have two more training sessions before facing the host team Laos on November 19 in the qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup. The fresh air from the appearance of faces like Gia Bao is expected to bring more quality options, especially when the season enters the decisive stage.
Quick stats and notable timelines
| Mold | Information | Quote/detail |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoon of November 16 | Vietnam team's first training session in Laos | Gia Bao first appeared in the national team |
| After the match against Da Nang | Confirmation message from Tien Linh | "Mr. Tien Linh texted saying someone from the Federation asked for his phone number" |
| 19/11 | Meet the Laos team | Within the framework of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers |
Note
All shares, timelines and assessments in the article were made by Khong Minh Gia Bao after the first training session in Laos and information from the Vietnamese team during this gathering.