HAGL defender ready to play as striker for Vietnam U23 team

Defender Dinh Quang Kiet from HAGL club is prepared to play as a forward for the Vietnam U23 national team if requested by the head coach.

In an interview before today's afternoon training session on March 20 at the VFF Youth Training Center, Dinh Quang Kiet stated: "My current height gives me confidence in aerial duels. I am also not afraid of physical challenges. However, I am limited in agility, which is a weakness I need to improve significantly.

I am ready to play as a striker if the coach requires it. Normally at the club, I also often move up to attack when needed. I will strive to train to earn a spot on the national team during training camps and be included in the list for the 2026 Asian Games.

At the club, when necessary, I can still move up to play as a striker to participate in headers or set pieces. Wherever the coach needs me, I can play in that position."

During this March FIFA Days training camp, the Vietnam U23 team will participate in the CFA 2026 international friendly tournament in Xi'an (China), facing the host team along with North Korea and Thailand.

Quang Kiet shared his assessment with the media: "All opponents are very strong, but the whole team is always ready. The players support and communicate with each other on the field, which helps us play more comfortably."

The Vietnam U23 team will play an internal match tomorrow afternoon, March 21. This serves as a basis for interim head coach Dinh Hong Vinh to evaluate the players' form and finalize a shortened squad before the team departs for China to participate in the CFA Team China 2026 tournament on March 23.

The CFA Team China 2026 international tournament takes place in Xi'an from March 25 to March 31. This year's tournament features four teams: host China U23, Vietnam U23, Thailand U23, and North Korea U23, competing in a single round-robin format to determine the final rankings.

According to the schedule announced by the organizers, the Vietnam U23 team will face North Korea U23 on March 25, compete against Thailand U23 on March 28, and then challenge host China U23 in the final match on March 31.

Dinh Quang Kiet, born in 2007, has been a regular starter for Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the last two V-League seasons. His experience in professional competitions gives Quang Kiet the prospect of securing a position in the Vietnam U23 squad.