Concerns over Song Lam Nghe An's 'cleanliness' in U23 Vietnam

It is not the “doomsday” for the promising talents of Song Lam Nghe An, but after Van Lam last year failed to make the final list for the 31st SEA Games, now it is the turn of Khac Luong and Manh Quynh to continue to “fall from grace” under the new coach, systematically indicating that the Song Lam academy has “lost its sacredness” in the eyes of the strategists assigned to steer Vietnamese football in recent years. Why this sad situation exists is not an easy question to answer, but it is impossible not to think about all the causes and reasons surrounding this hot story.

Ho Khac Luong (2nd, first row from left) in the U23 Vietnam team jersey. Photo: FBNV

Remember that, since 2017, 2018, when Mr. Park Hang-seo came to Vietnam, the number of young players recruited to the U23 team did not include anyone from Song Lam Nghe An, but mainly from Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Hanoi FC. At that time, Van Duc and Xuan Manh were only called up after the national U21 tournament and they immediately won the trust of the Korean coach. At the 30th SEA Games, the U23 Vietnam team also did not have any names from Song Lam Nghe An, except for Trong Hoang in the over-age group and currently playing for Viettel.

At the 31st SEA Games at home, this situation also repeated when Van Lam was eliminated at the last minute and a name from Nghe An, Tuan Tai, was now a Viettel player. And now, preparing for the 32nd SEA Games, once again, the names from theLam River Nghe Anwas eliminated in surprise when people knew that Khac Luong was the captain of the U19 team during Troussier's time and Manh Quynh had just scored the opening goal for the Troussier dynasty?

The coach of course only “decided” the list without telling anyone anything. Everything after that was just speculation and inference by the media. The simplest answer is that the young players of Song Lam Nghe An are talented, but the selected players are even more talented, more suitable to the philosophy, playing style, and expectations of the French coach to serve the upcoming campaigns and strategies of Vietnamese football.

The list of Vietnam U23 team participating in U23 Cup - Qatar 2023 does not include Song Lam Nghe An. Photo: VFF

There are newspapers that express regret that Khac Luong is not on the list due to injury, but as the story of Trong Hoang under Park Hang-seo shows, the juniors have not been as convincing as their seniors, to the point that even though they are injured, they are still called up and waited to "fight" with the team later? As for Manh Quynh, the story may be different in that when the group of talented U20 players are promoted, the crowding and competition are many times greater and Quynh being "out" is understandable and inevitable.

Furthermore, if we compare Manh Quynh and Khac Luong with Xuan Tien and Van Cuong, we can see that their influence on the home team is clearly different. Xuan Tien and Van Cuong, although young, are gradually becoming the pillars of the team in the V-League, while Khac Luong and Manh Quynh are just reserves. Therefore, if Xuan Tien and Van Cuong do not go to U23 but stay at home to serve the V-League, then Khac Luong and Manh Quynh do not have a place in U23, which is also logical.

But whatever is said, Mr. Troussier is never wrong in choosing the squad and force for the important task ahead and we support that for the overall benefit. The problem is that the youth training of Song Lam Nghe An is facing certain difficulties after a long series of successes. There are spectacular breakthroughs coming from the training centers of Hanoi FC, Viettel, PVF and Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Rare players such as Van Khang, Van Truong, Quoc Viet... are being cared for and guided.

Of course, no one denies that Song Lam Nghe An still produces promising talents such as Van Cuong, Xuan Tien, Van Binh, Nguyen Hoang... but unfortunately they have not yet caught the eye of the French coach or for some reason they are not on the current U23 Vietnam team.

When the Song Lam Nghe An furnace continues to be "clean" in U23 Vietnam under the new dynasty, Nghe An fans with their inherent lovable nature and interesting localism will be wondering and worrying, which is nothing new. This slight sadness and self-esteem will quickly disappear if the Song Lam Nghe An players themselves are more determined and brave to practice and mature. Simply, no door is closed to those who have the desire to turn their dreams into reality.

The door to U23 Vietnam also opens and closes depending on the players' performance and their desire to contribute, as Mr. Troussier himself once affirmed. And first of all, they should "burn" themselves out for Song Lam Nghe An before thinking about joining U23 Vietnam or the Vietnam National Team in the future?./.