3 Vietnamese overseas players unlikely to become captains of the U23 Vietnam team

The trio of overseas Vietnamese players Viktor Lê, Vadim Nguyễn, and Trần Thành Trung most likely will not be part of the U23 Vietnam leadership committee.

During the training camp in Qatar starting from October 7, U23 Vietnam included three overseas Vietnamese players: Viktor Lê, Vadim Nguyễn, and Trần Thành Trung. According to investigations, these players are currently not listed in the team’s leadership group, which has drawn fans’ attention. However, not being in the leadership group does not mean they won’t have a chance to showcase their abilities, as the coaching staff is still evaluating and finalizing the roster in upcoming training sessions.

Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh stated: “U23 Vietnam is still following the planned pathway, aiming for SEA Games 33 in December and the AFC U23 Championship in early 2026. Regarding the October training camp, Coach Kim Sang Sik discussed with me the technical aspects. The team needs to focus on passing, maintaining formation spacing, and creating space behind the defense.”

He also emphasized that the two friendly matches against U23 Qatar on October 9 and 13 are important opportunities for the team to assess player potential, identify quality talents, and report to Coach Kim Sang Sik to add personnel for future training camps.

Although the leadership group is not finalized, Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh is likely to still trust the domestic trio Nguyễn Văn Trường, Phạm Lý Đức, and Nguyễn Quốc Việt. This is also a chance to evaluate the overseas newcomer Vadim Nguyễn along with midfielder Trần Thành Trung, who developed in Bulgaria.

“Coach Kim Sang Sik and I maintain constant communication with the scouting team. Based on professional criteria, U23 Vietnam decided to include Vadim Nguyễn in this training camp,” shared acting head coach Đinh Hồng Vinh.

Viktor Lê experienced a minor hamstring issue in the match against PVF-CAND and joined the camp late due to weather and travel delays. Meanwhile, Vadim Nguyễn and Trần Thành Trung are eager to demonstrate their skills during practice. Although not part of the leadership group, the three overseas Vietnamese players are expected to contribute positively, helping U23 Vietnam aim for the SEA Games 33 gold medal and strong results at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.