Khuat Van Khang and his ambitious final chapter at the U23 Asian Championship.
In his final AFC U23 Asian Championship as a young player, captain Khuất Văn Khang set a goal of leading the Vietnam U23 team past the quarter-finals despite the challenges in Qatar.
In the tense atmosphere of Doha, Qatar, on the afternoon of December 28th, Khuất Văn Khang – the captain of the Vietnam U23 team – shared his insightful thoughts about the upcoming journey. This is not just an ordinary continental tournament; for this midfielder, the 2026 AFC U23 Championship marks his "final dance" at the youth level, where he aspires to leave a historical mark before the end of his U23 career.
The challenge of adaptation and physical fitness in Doha.
Traveling to Qatar early was a strategic move, but it also presented significant challenges regarding circadian rhythms. The captain of the Vietnam U23 team frankly admitted that the four-hour time difference from Vietnam was the first obstacle the entire team had to overcome. According to Van Khang, the changes in living conditions, weather, and nutrition required maximum concentration from the players to maintain ideal physical condition.
The aspiration to surpass the quarter-finals.
Building on the success of Vietnamese football in regional and continental competitions over the past year, the U23 Vietnam team enters the tournament with considerable confidence. For Van Khang personally, the goal this time is not just to repeat the achievement of reaching the quarterfinals as in the previous tournament two years ago.
"For me personally, this is my last tournament at the U23 level. My team and I will aim for the highest goal, trying our best to play well and advance deep into the tournament," Van Khang emphasized. This determination is also reflected in the training attitude of his teammates, such as striker Dinh Bac, who is also working hard to be as well-prepared as possible for the tournament.
At the end of the interview, the young leader did not forget to express his gratitude to the fans who have always supported him from the SEA Games to the Southeast Asian tournaments. The support from home is a crucial motivation for the Vietnam U23 team to aim for higher goals, bringing pride to the nation on the continental football map.