A boost for Southeast Asian student football

" THANK YOU FOR THE MEANINGFUL PLAYGROUND "

The 2025 International Student Football Tournament - THACO Cup organized by Thanh Nien Newspaper has reached its final stages. Throughout the 9 days of competition with 10 matches, there were top performances between the strongest student football teams representing the countries. The fighting spirit for the colors of the school and the homeland urged the players to play with more than 100% of their ability, creating great matches.

Lao University team thanks fans after winning the right to play in the final match

Photo: INDEPENDENCE

Despite the high competition density of 9 matches in 1 month (including the Vietnamese and international TNSV tournaments), the players of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism still steadfastly defeated the strong opponent Life University (Cambodia) to win the right to play in the second final match of this year's tournament. Or the team of Lao University, although having a slow start when losing to Life University, has returned to the winning track to enter the final. And there are also the exciting and unpredictable chases that have created the beauty of student football.

That is the "guiding principle" of the 2025 International Youth Championship: to create a playground for players to prove themselves and strive tirelessly, as well as to create a bridge for students from Southeast Asian countries to come closer together, learn from each other, and create a harmonious and cohesive environment.

"We would like to send our sincere thanks to the tournament organizers, Thanh Nien Newspaper as well as everyone who has created a meaningful playground for Nanyang Technological University in particular and other student teams in general. For student players, being able to express themselves on a big playground is an honor, as well as a very important step for them to grow up. We came to compete together. On the field, we are opponents. And off the field, we are all friends," said Head of Delegation Muhammad Syafiq Bin Juffri of Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).

The head of the Singaporean team has a lot of love for the tournament.

The only female team leader at the tournament

Ms. Phouvanh Simanovong, Head of the Lao University delegation, shared: "We have learned many meaningful things in this year's tournament. Lao players have the opportunity to compete with student teams from other countries to gain experience and learn about solidarity. Winning or losing is not important, we will always strive both mentally and physically to give the best performance."

As for Life University, the tournament "provided a playground to connect teams together. Hopefully we will strengthen our solidarity. Hopefully the tournament will be held for many more years."

LET'S MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER

At the gala held on March 27, 6 football teams participating in the 2025 International Youth Championship - THACO Cup sang and danced together to the music of many brotherly countries such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. Although the languages ​​and cultures are different, the spirit of solidarity between countries, student spirit and love of football brought everyone together in a spirit of brotherly friendship.

Mr. Doan Minh Xuong, Head of the School Football Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Football Federation, emphasized: "The International Youth Football Tournament not only brings a boost to the school football movement, but also creates a useful playground for exchange, helping fans understand where Vietnamese student football is compared to other Southeast Asian countries". Coach Kim Sang-sik of the Vietnamese team affirmed that he is looking forward to Thanh Nien Newspaper inviting a Korean representative to Vietnam to compete in the International Youth Football Tournament so that both sides can gain experience and demonstrate their abilities.

Referee Tran Ngoc Nho, one of the "judges" of the tournament, affirmed: "The tournament has opened up opportunities for cultural exchange and learning between students from different countries, connecting friendship and friendship in Southeast Asia. Hopefully, the tournament will be expanded to other Asian countries, taking advantage of the opportunity to promote the image of Vietnamese students to international friends."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cu-hich-cho-bong-da-sinh-vien-dong-nam-a-185250330000310707.htm