Coach Kim Sang Sik expresses pride in his players’ fighting spirit
On the evening of July 29 in Jakarta (Indonesia), the Vietnam U23 team defeated hosts U23 Indonesia 1-0 in the final to claim the 2025 AFF U23 Championship title. This marks the third consecutive time that Vietnam U23 has been crowned champions in the regional U23 tournament.
Immediately after the match, head coach Kim Sang Sik and striker Nguyễn Đình Bắc — who was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament — shared their thoughts at the post-match press conference.
Speaking after the historic victory, Coach Kim Sang Sik expressed his pride: “I am very happy and proud that Vietnam U23 has won the championship for the third consecutive time. Thank you to the fans who came to the stadium to support us, and also to those watching from home. This victory is the result of our players’ resilient fighting spirit and a month of thorough preparation.”
Admitting that the team faced considerable pressure playing away from home with the majority of supporters backing the host team, Kim Sang Sik said: “There was pressure, but I trusted in the team’s preparation. It was a very tough match, but the players fought patiently and truly deserved the win.”
The Korean coach also explained his unusual gesture of repeatedly waving a towel on the sidelines:
“The stadium was too large and the Indonesian crowd was overwhelming, so it was difficult for my verbal instructions to reach the players. I used the towel as a signal for them to keep pressing and attacking.”
When asked how closely the team followed the pre-match game plan, Coach Kim Sang Sik assessed:
“We didn’t create many attacking opportunities, but we managed to maintain control of the game and held our defensive line until the end. Under the hot weather conditions, the players gave it their all.”
Striker Nguyễn Đình Bắc — who was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament — couldn’t hide his emotions after the game: “I’m very happy and proud. This is our third consecutive championship, and it serves as an important stepping stone toward bigger goals ahead, such as the AFC U23 qualifiers and the SEA Games. Before the tournament, the whole team set the goal of winning the title, and today we made it happen.”
With a 1-0 victory in the final, Vietnam U23 not only successfully defended their title but also concluded their 2025 AFF U23 Championship campaign on a convincing note. This result reflects their thorough preparation, resilient fighting spirit, and the coaching staff’s tactical flexibility. The triumph also raises hopes for Vietnamese youth football in upcoming continental tournaments.
