Ninh Binh, 7 February 2026 – Coach Le Quang Trai of Hoang Anh Gia Lai has revealed a surprising detail about goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, who lost as much as 8 kilograms after the U23 Asian Cup 2026, yet has put personal disappointment aside to help his club overcome difficulties in the LP Bank V.League 1 – 2025/26.
“The objective of U23 Vietnam in the semi-final against U23 China was to reach the final. That defeat was heartbreaking for everyone, and Trung Kien was deeply affected. He suffered from insomnia and lost weight very quickly. When he returned to Gia Lai, I checked and saw that he had lost up to eight kilograms. At that moment, the situation was truly complicated,” coach Le Quang Trai shared.
According to the HAGL head coach, Trung Kien later told him that he would leave the sadness behind and give everything for the club. “Trung Kien is one of the most important players for Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Not just in this match, but throughout the season, he has performed excellently and fully deserves the trust placed in him,” Le Quang Trai added.
His comments came after HAGL secured a 2–1 victory over Ninh Binh FC in Round 13 of the LPBank V-League 1 2025/26.
The match began with an early breakthrough for HAGL in the 16th minute, when Minh Tam capitalized on a mistake by U23 Vietnam defender Le Van Thuan and calmly beat Dang Van Lam to open the scoring. Ninh Binh FC equalized in the 64th minute thanks to a well-executed free kick by Geovane.
Despite the setback, the composure of Trung Kien and the HAGL defense prevented Ninh Binh from finding another goal. The decisive moment came in the 85th minute when Marciel da Silva surged down the left flank before unleashing a powerful shot that left Dang Van Lam helpless for the second time, sealing a 2–1 win for Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
Speaking after the match, Ninh Binh FC assistant coach Dinh Xuan Viet admitted his team’s disappointment. “We tried very hard, but football always contains unpredictable elements. HAGL were well prepared and understood both themselves and their opponents. We trained and analyzed carefully to aim for the best result, but luck was not on our side.”
He added that matches like this would serve as valuable lessons. “All our efforts today did not bring the desired outcome. We will go back, regroup, and improve. There are still 13 rounds ahead, and anything can happen. From these setbacks, we must mature as quickly as possible to move toward future victories.”
After Round 13, the V-League will enter the Lunar New Year break. When the competition resumes, Ninh Binh FC will open the second half of the season with an away trip to Thien Truong Stadium, where they will face Thep Xanh Nam Dinh
Kim Tuyen
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