Vietnam U23 coach candidly addresses absence of 'prodigy' Le Phat

Coach Dinh Hong Vinh expresses regret that Vietnam U23 cannot have Le Phat's service due to injury.

On the afternoon of March 17, the Vietnam U23 team commenced their first training session during the March 2026 training camp, preparing to participate in the CFA Team China International Football Tournament – Xi'an 2026. Prior to the training, Acting Head Coach Dinh Hong Vinh held a press briefing, sharing insights on the squad, objectives, and the team's development direction for the upcoming phase.

Regarding the absence of forward Nguyen Le Phat, Acting Head Coach Dinh Hong Vinh expressed regret that the young player unfortunately suffered a shoulder injury just before the assembly day. “Le Phat is a good player. I am very sorry that he got injured; this somewhat affects the team's current plans for tactical development and squad formation,” Coach Dinh Hong Vinh shared.

According to official information from Ninh Binh Club, during the training session on March 15 afternoon, forward Nguyen Le Phat sustained a shoulder injury and was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment. Fortunately, Le Phat's injury did not require surgery, and doctors successfully repositioned the bone.

As scheduled, Le Phat will be discharged on March 18 and can resume training after about a month. Thus, Le Phat's injury is not too severe, but the player will definitely miss Vietnam U23's upcoming friendly tournament in China.

Although only 19 years old, Le Phat is one of six players who participated in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup final stage retained in Vietnam U23's current assembly list. As the youngest member of the highly successful Vietnam U23 squad of 2025, Le Phat now serves as a pillar of the new U23 generation, possessing the most extensive match experience despite his young age.

This is a regrettable loss for Vietnam U23 as the team prepares to assemble for the CFA Team China 2026 international friendly tournament. The event takes place in Xi'an (China) from March 25 to 31 and is considered an important opportunity for the coaching staff to assess the squad and finalize the lineup for upcoming objectives.

Vietnam U23 holds first training session with Coach Dinh Hong Vinh

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