Vietnam Team: Behind the good news for coach Kim Sang Sik

Coach Kim Sang Sik is likely to have a few more naturalized players after Nguyen Xuan Son, serving the Vietnam national team in the near future. But what is behind that joy?

Good news for Mr. Kim Sang Sik

Ahead of the important matches of the upcoming 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, coach Kim Sang Sik has continuously received positive information about his personnel as a series of quality Vietnamese-origin and naturalized players are about to complete the procedures to be able to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey.

This information comes in the context that the Vietnamese team is in need of quality additions to get through the narrow door to the highest tournament in Asia, after losing to direct opponent Malaysia 0-4 in the first leg.

After Xuan Son, it is likely that the Vietnamese team will have some new naturalized faces.

Specifically, the names that are in the process of naturalization (or have succeeded) such as Patrik Le Giang, Gustavo Sant Ana, Adou Minh, Hendrio (Do Hoang Hen) bring coach Kim Sang Sik news that could not be happier.

If successful and with these additions, the Vietnamese team will clearly be stronger and more diverse in tactical options to compete for the only ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup finals with its main opponent, Malaysia.

What comes after joy?

The Vietnamese national team can be strengthened with the addition of naturalized players and overseas Vietnamese, but it can be seen that this only solves the problem, as a short-term "quick fix" rather than a sustainable development strategy. And the core of the national team must still be local players - those who will decide the long-term future of the entire football industry.

We do not deny the contributions of naturalized players, typically Nguyen Xuan Son or those with Vietnamese blood like Nguyen Filip, Cao Pedant Quang Vinh... However, if we do not go hand in hand with youth training, raise the level of V-League and create international competition opportunities for 100% domestic players, the "fundamental problem" will forever be left open.

However, the core of a strong football foundation still lies in the native players.

Therefore, Vietnamese football needs to look further by taking advantage of the presence of naturalized players as a "catalyst", both helping the Vietnamese team achieve immediate results and creating a fiercely competitive environment for domestic players to progress.

The long-term goal is to build a solid local foundation, so that later, when there is no more external source of support, the Vietnamese team can still stand firm with its own internal strength.

It can be seen that the joy and hope for naturalized players are real, but for sustainable development, it is necessary to determine that: only local players can help Vietnamese football go far, not some kind of support.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tuyen-viet-nam-phia-sau-tin-vui-cho-hlv-kim-sang-sik-2445118.html