Song Lam Nghe An players' physical strength and Vietnamese football's aspiration to reach new heights

Cphysical health of Vietnamese players

At the Hooray Cup 2025 International U16 Football Friendly Tournament in China, a photo taken between midfielder Dinh Cuong of U15 Song Lam Nghe An and player wearing shirt number 35 of Yeongdeok FC (Korea) was widely shared on social media. In that photo, the small Vietnamese player stood next to a towering opponent, creating an image that was both funny and made many people think.

Many people believe that the photo reflects the physical disadvantage of Vietnamese players compared to their international counterparts. However, behind that image is a long story about the journey of physical development, fitness and the desire to go further of Vietnamese football.

In fact, the physical condition of Song Lam Nghe An players has improved significantly in recent years. In the Hooray Cup 2025, central defender Nguyen Minh Quan was 1m83 tall, while central defender To Thanh Nam was nearly 1m80.

According to Mr. Tran Quang Dung - Director of Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center, the current SLNA U15 team's physique is approaching that of strong teams in the region. When compared with Thailand or some Chinese teams, the difference is almost no longer obvious. Only when compared with Japan or Korea, we can see that there is still a slight difference in stature and physique.

Mr. Dung added: “In recent years, the team has paid much attention to nutrition and physical strength for the players. In addition to the diet invested by Nghe An province with 150,000 VND per day for 1 player, sponsor Tan Long also supports 3 boxes of fresh milk and snacks every day. Thanks to that, the physical strength and endurance of the players have improved significantly.”

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In addition to the diet provided by Nghe An province, sponsor Tan Long also provided 3 boxes of fresh milk and snacks every day. Thanks to this, the children’s physical strength and endurance have improved significantly.

Mr. Tran Quang Dung

These shares partly show the positive changes in physical training for young players of Song Lam Nghe An. However, the center still lacks a team of coaches with specialized physical training. This is one of the limitations that prevents young players from achieving comprehensive development in strength, speed, ability to collide and recover after training.

To catch up with the top football teams in Asia, Song Lam Nghe An in particular and Vietnamese football in general need to build a long-term and more scientific strategy, aiming at developing a sustainable physical foundation right from the young players. When invested in the right direction, players will not only be stronger, more durable but also more confident on their journey to the international arena.

The dream of raising the level of Vietnamese football

After the 1998 World Cup, Japan was in a similar situation to Vietnam today, with players small, lacking strength and easily running out of breath in disputes. But instead of accepting the reality, the Japan Football Association (JFA) carried out comprehensive reforms, considering physical development as a key national task.

Thanks to more than two decades of persistence, Japanese players today are taller, stronger and able to maintain a high speed for 90 minutes. They have risen to the top of Asia, many of them playing successfully at big clubs in Germany, Spain and England. It is a clear testament to the effectiveness of the strategy of investing in physical fitness.

This is also a model that Vietnamese football, especially Song Lam Nghe An, can learn and apply. According to Mr. Tran Quang Dung, to reach international standards, Song Lam Nghe An needs to synchronously implement 4 key solutions. First is to build a reasonable nutritional regimen for each player. Next is to design a modern physical training program, combining strength exercises with ball exercises. At the same time, focus on recovery and injury prevention so that players can maintain the best condition. Finally, increase international exchanges so that the players can practice in a real football environment.

If we persist in this direction, in just a few years, the physique and physical strength of Vietnamese players will certainly improve significantly. At that time, Song Lam Nghe An can completely become a model physical training center of the whole country, a place that produces healthy, resilient players with the ability to compete in major arenas.

Modern football is not just a game of technique. Successful players need to be able to run fast, compete well and maintain their form throughout the 90 minutes. Technique is the foundation, but fitness is what helps players translate technique into real results.

The World Cup dream of Vietnamese football will not be realized if the players are still physically weak. But if training centers like Song Lam Nghe An, PVF or Viettel join hands to build a sustainable physical foundation, from meals, exercises to sleep and recovery process, then that path can absolutely reach the destination.

A generation of Vietnamese players who are taller, stronger and faster will be the answer to the desire to go further. At that time, the image of small Vietnamese players in comparison photos will be a thing of the past. On the international field, they will be strong, confident warriors with enough stature to bring Vietnamese football to reach its big dream.