Brazilian striker joins Vietnamese team in Asian tournament

In preparation for the Quarter-finals of the 2025/26 AFC Women's Champions League, HCMC Women's FC has just unveiled two new foreign recruits: Joelma Church Alves Gabriel and Israela Alicia Groves.

According to the club's information, Joelma Church Alves Gabriel is a forward from Brazil. The addition of Joelma – a formidable "dancer" with speed and technique rich in Samba flair – is expected to enhance the attacking line of the Vietnamese representative with greater versatility ahead of the upcoming major challenge. Joelma will wear jersey number 77 for HCMC.

Meanwhile, Israela Alicia Groves is a midfielder born in 1999 from Jamaica, who will wear jersey number 70 when playing for HCMC. Last season, Alicia played for Athlone WFC in Ireland's National League and regularly featured in matches. She is known for her speed and strength, particularly capable of playing multiple positions in the attack. The inclusion of Israela Alicia Groves promises to add "steel" and creativity to the midfield of the Vietnamese representative.

In the Asian quarter-finals, HCMC Club will face the opponent Naegohyang Women's FC (DPRK) in a match scheduled at 15:00 on March 28, 2026, at Laos National Stadium. This is considered a challenging match for coach Đoàn Thị Kim Chi and her team, as the opponent boasts many DPRK national team players – athletes of Asian, even world-class caliber.

Regarding HCMC Club, the Vietnamese representative concluded the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26 group stage as runner-up in Group A. This achievement enables the team representing Vietnam to participate in the quarter-finals of the most prestigious Asian women's club competition for the second consecutive time.