Late blooming phoenix flowers

Summer has long since arrived, yet the phoenix blossoms are just now opening. With three goals in the recent three games against Van Hien University Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City Club, and Long An, Cong Phuong propelled Truong Tuoi Dong Nai to promotion in the V-League 2026/2027 ahead of the last round.

Many social media posts from Xuan Truong, Minh Vuong, and other veterans—former teammates from the U19 HAGL Arsenal-JMG Academy batch that graduated 12 years ago—express their joy about "reaching the peak for the first time" with Truong Tuoi Dong Nai. Phuong seems more reserved, knowing that this alone is not enough.

Cong Phuong was once hailed as a prodigy of Vietnamese football, but he has never fully satisfied everyone. From overseas training stints, transfer deals criticized for being more commercial than professional, injuries, and being out of favor at every level—Phuong has offered no excuses, only silently persevering.

For over 12 years now, spanning three to four generations of players, Phuong has remained stuck, unable to move forward. Every summer, when national teams gather, his name comes up again. But this time, it seems a bit too late.

After the final rounds of the 2025/2026 V-League and National First Division, the national team will officially assemble for the campaign to defend the ASEAN Cup 2026 title (scheduled for late July). Coach Kim Sang Sik's plans likely won't include Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, or Minh Vuong—by default. Even Tuan Anh (Nam Dinh) will struggle to earn a spot.

It's not that Phuong's generation lacks talent; rather, the competitive environment in the National First Division is far lower than the V-League. The pace is slower, and the technical level is several steps behind. Moreover, the operational mechanism at the national team level has changed. Placing those names anywhere is difficult, as under Coach Kim Sang Sik in recent years, players are not only physically strong but also adept at adapting to high-intensity transition football.

If the national team's forward line is certain to be entrusted to naturalized foreign players Nguyen Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, Tai Loc (Geovane)—all in their prime—then Tuan Hai or Hai Long will have to play on the wings or be substitutes. Meanwhile, the midfield, the engine room, already belongs to Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, and Ngoc Tan.

Statistics show that over 80% of goals come from wing attacks. The Vietnam national team will surely continue to rely on wing play, with strong flanks in the familiar 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 formations. And this setup leaves little room for Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, and Minh Vuong. Although these players haven't yet passed their peak, they are now in their thirties, so even trying to stay at Truong Tuoi Dong Nai in the upcoming V-League season will be a challenge.

It is a pity for Cong Phuong and for an entire generation of talented and uniquely pure players that Vietnamese football has produced. Nevertheless, Phuong and his teammates will remain a great source of inspiration for children who start training in football.

Summer has arrived, the most beautiful season of the year for youth football. We will plant many saplings again, so that one day we can harvest sweet fruits!