To be a background or to confirm a position in the Vietnam team?

HAGL puts faith in Chau Ngoc Quang

Chau Ngoc Quang is a "familiar yet strange" face of the Vietnam national team. Ngoc Quang was promoted to the HAGL first team to participate in the V-League in 2016, but the journey of the player born in 1996 in the mountain town was full of hardships.

Although Ngoc Quang played 25 matches in the 2017 season, contributing greatly to helping his team stay in the league, after that, this player was continuously loaned out. While his teammates had a starting position and then took turns playing for the national team, Ngoc Quang "wandered" to Dak Lak, The Cong Viettel and then Hai Phong. At the end of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, this midfielder was tested by coach Park Hang-seo, but then the pandemic also took away Ngoc Quang's opportunity.

Chau Ngoc Quang in HAGL shirt

With so many difficulties, many players would give up. But for Ngoc Quang, the concept of "surrender" does not exist. Inside his small, "thin" body, there is a fiery playing style, determination and willpower to overcome adversity.

Chau Ngoc Quang participated in the AFF Cup 2022, leaving his mark with a long-range shot against Myanmar in the 3-0 victory of the Vietnamese team. Although that was also Ngoc Quang's most recent impression in the past 2 years in the national team's jersey, it does not mean that the HAGL midfielder is not worthy.

On the contrary, Ngoc Quang was "spotted" by coach Kim Sang-sik because he is the most stable and durable midfielder in V-League this season. He has played all 9 matches for HAGL since the beginning of the tournament (740 minutes), contributing 3 goals. The 28-year-old midfielder can continuously press, not afraid to confront bigger, thicker players. This is the "heat" that the midfield of the Vietnamese team is lacking.

In the match against India in October, Ngoc Quang was placed in the middle with Le Pham Thanh Long. Although he did not score or assist, the 28-year-old midfielder still contributed to the game thanks to his aggressiveness, enthusiasm and tireless running. If he had been luckier, Ngoc Quang could have scored with a situation where he turned the post and then curled the ball with his left foot, sending it just wide of the post.

Ngoc Quang (number 8) has to compete with many formidable opponents.

For coach Kim Sang-sik, this performance is enough to give him another chance to try out. Ngoc Quang will have 10 more days in Korea to convince coach Kim to give him a starting position. Although the Vietnamese team's midfield is currently crowded with talented players, if he knows how to save, Ngoc Quang still has a chance to get a place.

Difficult for Trung Kien and Bao Toan

The remaining two HAGL players called up to the Vietnam national team include goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien and midfielder Tran Bao Toan.

Unlike Chau Ngoc Quang, the competitiveness of these two factors is very low. Trung Kien is only the fourth choice in goal, behind seniors of superior level such as Nguyen Filip, Dang Van Lam and Nguyen Dinh Trieu.

Trung Kien has only played 16 matches in the V-League. Possessing a good height (1.90 m) and potential shown after 8 starting matches since the beginning of the tournament, but the goalkeeper born in 2003 is more of a choice for the future than the present.

Goalkeeper Trung Kien (number 42) is only 21 years old.

He and Nguyen Van Viet (SLNA) are young goalkeepers "planned" for the 33rd SEA Games taking place in December 2025. Although they cannot compete for a position yet, each national team training session, learning from seniors like Van Lam, Filip, especially being coached by legendary Korean goalkeeper Lee Won-jae will bring valuable experiences for Trung Kien to mature.

Similarly, midfielder Bao Toan is difficult to compete with, whether playing on the wing or playing as an attacking midfielder. The wing line currently has good runners such as Van Khang, Tan Tai, Xuan Manh, Van Thanh, while the attacking midfield line has Vi Hao, Quang Hai, Van Duc, Hai Long...

Not having a name "nailed" down to any position is an obstacle, making it difficult for HAGL players to convince coach Kim.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sao-hagl-lam-nen-hay-khang-dinh-vi-tri-o-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-185241125111411499.htm