Nam Dinh FC’s head coach Vu Hong Viet has confirmed that naturalized player Nguyen Xuan Son, formerly known as Rafaelson, is ready to make his debut in the upcoming AFC Cup (Cúp C2 châu Á) match against Lee Man FC on the evening of September 18.
In the opening round of the 2024/2025 V-League season, Xuan Son was unable to play due to delays in completing his Vietnamese citizenship process. However, coach Vu Hong Viet revealed that the forward will be ready to take the field in the crucial match against Lee Man. “Nguyen Xuan Son couldn’t play last weekend, but he’s ready for tomorrow’s game. Son will be one of the starting players,” said the Nam Dinh coach.
Nam Dinh FC, the reigning V-League champions, is gearing up for their first appearance in the AFC Cup after winning their second league title—first in 1985 and most recently in 2024 after a 39-year wait. Coach Vu Hong Viet emphasized the team’s thorough preparations for the continental tournament, stating, “We have experience playing in continental competitions and have prepared well for this year’s AFC Cup.”
Despite their preparations, Vu Hong Viet admitted that the team doesn’t have extensive knowledge of Lee Man FC. “We don’t know much about Lee Man. We only started studying them after their two recent draws in their domestic league. From what I’ve learned, they are a strong opponent with many foreign players,” the coach added.
For the upcoming match on September 18, Nam Dinh is expected to field a squad featuring up to seven foreign players, including Xuan Son, who is in the process of obtaining Vietnamese citizenship. Other key foreign players include Lucas Araujo, Walber Mota, Joseph Mpande, Caio César, Hendrio, and Lucas Silva.
The match between Lee Man FC and Nam Dinh will kick off at 7:00 PM – Mongkok Stadium.
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