Hai Phong, 7 August, 2025 – Following Vietnam’s commanding 6-0 win over Cambodia in their opening match at the 2025 ASEAN Women’s Cup, head coach Mai Duc Chung addressed the media with insights not only on the game but also broader issues within Southeast Asian women’s football.
Speaking on his team’s performance, Coach Chung noted Cambodia’s improvement over recent years:
“We played Cambodia at the SEA Games before, and I can see they have progressed well since then,” he said. “Football is about collective strength. Huynh Nhu providing assists is just as important as her scoring. Thanh Nha just returned from injury, so we will manage her minutes wisely. This tournament is challenging for us, and we will take it one game at a time with the final and the title as our ultimate goal.”
Regarding Vietnam’s remaining Group A rivals, Coach Chung said:
“I rate Thailand higher than Indonesia, and their 7-0 win proves it. Thailand’s squad is very young, with many new players—even some I haven’t seen before. This competition is part of their preparation for the SEA Games and other upcoming tournaments.”
Coach Chung also took a firm stance on the growing trend of naturalizing players in the region. He expressed concerns about competitive balance and the impact on domestic player development:
“Women’s football in Southeast Asia hasn’t grown that rapidly yet. Personally, I think each team should only be allowed to naturalize two to three players per tournament. The rest of the squad should be local talent. That way, we can ensure fairness and support the growth of homegrown players, especially for nations that don’t naturalize players.”
Coach Mai Duc Chung’s comments reflect a desire to maintain a level playing field in ASEAN competitions and promote sustainable development within the region’s football ecosystem.
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