HAGL trusts young people: Coach Kim and Vietnamese football are happy, but...

Boldly putting faith in homegrown players is a bold move by HAGL, but with only young players, it will be difficult for the mountain town team to find a high position in the V-League.

HAGL is persistent with young people

When the final whistle of the match between HAGL and Hanoi at Pleiku Stadium in round 10 of V-League 2021 (taking place in April 2021) sounded, Xuan Truong burst into tears on the bench.

Xuan Truong was the author of a beautiful long-range shot, helping HAGL win 1-0 and maintain the top position in the table. For the first time in their lives, the first and second batches of HAGL JMG with Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, Tuan Anh, Van Thanh, Van Toan, Hong Duy enjoyed the feeling of competing for the championship.

Although the 2021 season was canceled when HAGL was at the top of the table, the mountain town team is still considered the unofficial champion. As evidence, the mountain town team won a ticket to the AFC Champions League 2022. In the Asian playground, coach Kiatisak Senamuang and his team drew with Jeonbuk (Korean champion) and beat Sydney (Australian runner-up).

HAGL has many potential factors

PHOTO: KHA HOA

To have a season leading the V-League, HAGL has gone through 6 years of "three sinks and seven ups", with most of the time racing for relegation. From the 2015 season to 2019, the mountain town team had to wait until the final rounds to be sure of safety. In the 2020 season, HAGL entered the group of 8 teams competing for the championship, but continuously lost in the second stage.

The "bruises" of the past have tempered the mature generation, so that when a good and inspirational coach like Kiatisak appears, the mountain town team can change.

However, the sweet fruit of rejuvenation often comes late, or even does not come at all. Because not every young player can improve after many failures. Accumulating experience is only a necessary condition.

The generation of Cong Phuong and Xuan Truong were trained under the joint technology between HAGL and JMG, trained in Europe, went to Arsenal for trials, played for many levels such as U.19, U.23 and then the national team. However, this generation had to wait 6 years, that is, when they were 26, 27 years old, to be able to "blossom".

So, with the current young factors not inheriting training technology, accumulating as much experience as their seniors, and their potential is not necessarily comparable, how many years will HAGL have to wait for another breakthrough?

Need tall shade trees

HAGL's belief in young players is a commendable direction. Not many teams have a football academy, their own coaching philosophy to build their identity, and open opportunities for rough diamonds to be polished in the V-League.

Last season, Gia Bao became the youngest player to score in the V-League. He scored against Quang Nam Club (HAGL won 4-0) when he was only 16 years old.

Gia Bao scored in V-League at the age of 16

PHOTO: DONG NGHI

In the future, there may be more Gia Baos appearing at HAGL. Debuting in V-League at a young age, creating a breath of fresh air, further strengthening the foundation for Vietnamese youth football.

However, football is ultimately about results. HAGL may be young, ambitious, and able to promote 5 to 7 players to the first team each year, and use technology in training and player analysis. But everything must be converted into concrete results.

But in terms of both results and playing style, HAGL is lacking a breakthrough. With the current players, coach Le Quang Trai and his team have done everything they can. Their current strength will hardly allow the Pleiku home team to go further.

The youth teams in V-League are divided into two groups. First are the "rich" youth teams like Hanoi and The Cong Viettel , who have talented and experienced seniors to guide the younger generation, and enough money to recruit foreign players. Under the shade of the "tall trees" of the previous generation, the young team gradually grows up and becomes the mainstay.

As for the youth teams of the "poor family overcomes difficulties" type, the new 20, 21 year old players will have to... play with each other, fight the storms by themselves. The generation of Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong 10 years ago, or the current generation of Trung Kien, Ly Duc are all like that.

Young players need talented seniors to guide and support them so that their potential is not wasted. Hopefully next season, HAGL will have more veteran players to increase their "steel quality". Training a good generation is difficult, using them appropriately is even more difficult.

If the young people are still lost, HAGL will find it difficult to go far.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hagl-tin-dung-nguoi-tre-thay-kim-va-bong-da-viet-nam-vui-day-nhung-185250621073421376.htm