A breath of fresh air for student football

Top level competition, inspiring school football

Speaking at the technical meeting and draw for the schedule of the 2025 International Youth Football Tournament - THACO Cup held yesterday (March 20) at Kim Do Hotel (HCMC), journalist Hai Thanh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the tournament, shared: " Thanh Nien Newspaper is not only a press agency with a multi-platform media ecosystem, but we also regularly organize sports tournaments for young people. Since 1997, Thanh Nien Newspaper has organized the national U.21 tournament and for nearly 3 years now, the national student football tournament".

The tournament organizers and representatives of the teams took souvenir photos at the technical meeting and draw lots to arrange the competition schedule.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

Graphics: Tuan Anh

Journalist Hai Thanh emphasized: "The organization of the 2025 International Student Football Tournament - THACO Cup aims to help Vietnamese student football teams increase their motivation in domestic tournaments, thereby seeking opportunities to compete professionally at a high level. The competition between teams in many countries can contribute to inspiring the school football movement of universities in the region. On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I am pleased to welcome representatives of 4 foreign student football teams and 2 Vietnamese student football teams present today. Hopefully, after 3 domestic seasons, this first international season will breathe new life into the football atmosphere of Vietnamese and regional students."

Head of the delegation Muhammad Syafiq Bin Juffri from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) expressed: "Our team will focus all our efforts, demonstrate our competitive ability, and dedicate ourselves to sports. At the same time, we see this as an opportunity to connect and interact with friends from many countries in Southeast Asia. Not just a tournament, we think this is an opportunity to connect, learn from each other and create good relationships beyond national boundaries. We believe that football can truly bring us together. Let's work together to make the THACO Cup a beautiful memory, proving that football inspires, unites and makes a lasting difference."

Most of the teams came to the international TNSV tournament with the spirit of conquest, but above all, the spirit of connection and exchange. "We are honored to represent Cambodian students to participate in the 2025 international TNSV tournament - THACO Cup to have a new wonderful experience for the players. On behalf of the whole team, we sincerely appreciate the hospitality and excellent preparation of the Organizing Committee and Thanh Nien Newspaper for opening a promising tournament," said head coach Kong Vechaka of Life University (Cambodia).

Waiting for exciting matches

The draw results put the host team Ton Duc Thang University in group A with the team of Lao University and the team of Life University (Cambodia), while group B is a competition between 3 teams: Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and the team of Malaysia University.

Coach Nguyen Dinh Long of Ton Duc Thang University

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Head of delegation Phouvanh Simanovong of Lao University

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Head Coach Kong Vechaka of Life University (Cambodia)

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

In Group A, Coach Nguyen Dinh Long (Ton Duc Thang University) expressed his determination: "We are the home team. Therefore, the whole team has determined the highest goal is to reach the final match of the tournament. Regarding the two opponents in Group A, we have not seen them play yet, but according to our research, the Life University team (Cambodia) has some players with quite good skills. The same goes for the Lao University team. We hope for the enthusiastic support of the university's student fans. The Ton Duc Thang University team focuses on itself, showing the best of its abilities." Head coach Kong Vechaka of the Cambodian team shared: "Last year our team won the championship of the Cambodian University Tournament. The students of the school come from many localities, they practice every afternoon, participate in local tournaments. The school leaders are passionate about football, so they create the best conditions for students to indulge their passion for the king of sports. The opponents are all formidable and the goal of the whole team is to have the best experience at the tournament."

Meanwhile, Ms. Phouvanh Simanovong, Head of the Lao University delegation, commented: "This is a rather difficult group for us. We have to face one of the teams with a strong student football movement in Vietnam, and also the host team Ton Duc Thang University. The Vietnamese representative is considered stronger than us. Therefore, the Lao University team needs to beat Life University first to have a chance to continue to the semi-finals. We have researched and analyzed the Ton Duc Thang University team through match videos on social networks. However, the Cambodian representative is still a mystery to us. The Lao University team will try their best to achieve good results."

In group B, Mr. Pham Cam Hung, Deputy Head of the delegation of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the two foreign teams from Singapore and Malaysia are both of good quality. He said: "They have won many achievements in domestic tournaments. The Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism team is the defending champion of the Vietnamese Youth Football Tournament. Therefore, we must show our best ability to deserve it. Calmness, confidence and determination are our motivations to show our best ability. We have the advantage of watching the two teams of the University of Malaysia and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) compete in the first match of Group B. From there, we will have a more specific assessment of our opponents, and find specific tactics. The team's goal is to go as far as possible in the tournament. If we win the double championship in the same month at the Youth Football Tournament, it will be a historic achievement for our school. The team will try our best. It is also the honor of the team to participate in the 2025 International Youth Football Tournament".

Head of delegation Hairi Hashim of University of Malaysia

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Head of delegation Muhammad Syafiq Bin Juffri of Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

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Deputy Head of Delegation Pham Cam Hung of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

Head of the delegation Muhammad Syafiq Bin Juffri of Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) affirmed that all teams in Group B are very formidable. In particular, the Singapore team highly appreciated the Vietnamese team, when the coaching staff watched the final match of the TNSV THACO Cup 2025 between Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports to analyze the opponent. "Each team has its own strengths, and so do we. The Nanyang Technological University team has come this far not to travel, but to prove themselves on the field. We are very confident as the whole team has carefully prepared everything, from physical training and playing style to creating cohesion through friendly matches," Mr. Bin Juffri affirmed.

Mr. Hairi Hashim, Head of the Malaysian University delegation, shared: "We will try to bring the best performances in the group stage. Our goal is to play well in each match. We will show our strengths as much as possible. Regarding the analysis of the opponent, to be honest, we do not have much information yet. However, the most important thing for us is to focus on our own performance. Many people may think that the Malaysian University team will have many difficulties when competing during Ramadan because balancing between strict training and fasting requires discipline and a strong spirit. I have witnessed the determination of the players and am also extremely proud of their resilience. Let's wait and see the performance of the Malaysian University team in the upcoming matches."