Goalkeeper Le Giang reassures himself

Vietnamese overseas goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik caught attention when he opened up after missing the March 2026 call-up to the Vietnamese national team. Behind this message is a story about opportunity and faith in a still-open future.

The factPatrik Le Giangnot being included in the official squad of the Vietnamese national team for the FIFA Days series in March 2026 is not a professional shock but rather a regret.

Along with Le Giang, the 20-year-old overseas Vietnamese player Khoa Ngo also was not called up to the Vietnamese U23 national team in March due to not yet having a Vietnamese passport.

The goalkeeper born in 1992 recently shared a status line: "If the universe is making you wait... Be patient. Never give up." This is not just self-motivation but a message for the challenging journey ahead.

From a professional perspective, few doubt Le Giang's ability. The 34-year-old goalkeeper is considered one of the standout goalkeepers in the current V-League due to his quick reflexes and stable situational judgment.

Coach Le Huynh Duc himself once affirmed that if given the opportunity, Le Giang could definitely become a goalkeeper for the Vietnamese national team. Le Giang contributed significantly to the achievement of reaching the Top 5 by the clubHo Chi Minh City Policecurrently with 26 points after round 16, just one point behind fourth-place Hanoi.

Le Giang's case clearly illustrates the strict legal barriers of FIFA. Although he already has Vietnamese citizenship, he still must complete the federation transfer process from Slovakia, where he played for the U19 and U21 teams, to Vietnam.

This is a mandatory procedure, and if any step is incomplete, the door to the national team must temporarily close. In that context, Kim Sang Sik chose three names for the goalkeeper position: Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Filip, and Tran Trung Kien.

For the fans of Ho Chi Minh City Police Club, the 34-year-old goalkeeper could certainly create positive competition, even change the landscape if he performs at a high level. This is seen as a fresh breeze for the future of the national team in the ASEAN Cup 2026 or the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

But as Le Giang himself admits, sometimes timing depends not only on personal effort. This goalkeeper is patient and understands the value of waiting.

At his current age, if he still has the desire, goalkeepers can have many peak years ahead. The story of Le Giang's aspiration to join the national team at age 34 is also a lesson for many domestic players.