Vietnam women set sights on AFF Cup glory

Speaking at the post-match press conference at Lach Tray Stadium (Hai Phong) on the evening of August 6, coach Mai Duc Chung shared: “The atmosphere today reminded me of the 2003 SEA Games. This victory came thanks to the amazing support of the fans. Although we won 6-0, I still hope the team can take better advantage of opportunities to score more goals. Compared to their performance at the SEA Games, the Cambodian women’s team has clearly improved.”

The head coach of Vietnam emphasized that football is a collective sport. Huynh Nhu’s assist for a teammate was just as important as scoring a goal herself. Thanh Nha, who just returned from injury, was used strategically by the coaching staff at the right moment. He noted that this tournament will be challenging, and the team must remain focused, playing each game with determination to reach the final and win the championship.

Commenting on the other teams in Group A, Mai Duc Chung assessed: “Thailand is stronger than Indonesia, and the 7-0 scoreline proves that. They brought a very young squad to the tournament, and I’m not yet familiar with many of their new players. Thailand is also preparing for the SEA Games and other major tournaments.”

He added that Southeast Asian women’s football still lacks rapid development. “I believe the number of naturalized players should be limited to two or three per team to ensure fairness and help each country focus on developing its homegrown talent,” he said.

Midfielder Bich Thuy, the best player of the match, expressed: “Thank you to the fans in Hai Phong and across the country for supporting the team. My teammates and I will keep working hard to achieve the best results and hope to continue receiving everyone’s support.”

On the other side, Cambodia women’s team coach Gyotoku Koji acknowledged the difference in quality: “I’ve only worked with the Cambodian women’s team for a short time, but the gap between the two sides is obvious. Vietnam is a strong team, technically skilled and tactically fluid, similar to the men’s team. Competing against them in women’s football is difficult, though in men’s football Cambodia is more evenly matched.”

Gyotoku Koji also noted that currently the Cambodian women’s team only has two foreign players. Personally, he does not support mass naturalization and prefers to focus on developing domestic talent.

Dai Nam

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