Singapore, 6 Oct 2026 – Cong An Ha Noi FC will be without key centre-back Bui Hoang Viet Anh when they begin their ASEAN Club Championship 2026/27 campaign away to Lion City Sailors on October 8, with Mano Polking’s squad facing increasing concerns over fatigue and player fitness.
Cong An Ha Noi FC will open their campaign with a trip to face Singaporean side Lion City Sailors at 7:30 p.m. on October 8. However, the Vietnamese club will not be able to field their strongest available line-up, with Viet Anh ruled out as he requires additional time to recover following a demanding period with the Vietnam national team.
The centre-back had already experienced fitness problems before Vietnam faced Malaysia in the third-place playoff at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Despite those concerns, Viet Anh still featured in the match as head coach Kim Sang-sik had limited options available in defence. Having played through a physically demanding period, the defender will now need more time to recover before returning to action for his club.
Viet Anh’s absence also highlights a wider challenge facing Cong An Ha Noi FC as several of their key players return from international duty with little opportunity to rest. A number of the club’s Vietnam internationals have just completed a congested FIFA ASEAN Cup schedule but must almost immediately switch their attention back to club football.
On the morning of October 6, Le Pham Thanh Long, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, Adou Minh, Le Van Do and Nguyen Dinh Bac travelled directly to Singapore to join the Cong An Ha Noi FC squad. Rather than returning to Vietnam for a recovery period following the FIFA ASEAN Cup, the group immediately moved on to their next assignment at club level.
The workload is further complicated by Cong An Ha Noi FC competing on multiple fronts. Alongside their ASEAN Club Championship commitments, Polking’s side are also involved in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27, leaving the coaching staff with a significant challenge in managing player fitness and maintaining squad depth throughout a demanding run of fixtures.
Following their opening match against Lion City Sailors, Cong An Ha Noi FC are scheduled to face Johor Darul Ta’zim on November 19, PKR Svay Rieng on December 10 and Shan United on February 25, 2027. Their campaign will then continue against Persib Bandung on March 4 before a meeting with Port FC on April 1.
With international players returning from a demanding tournament and major continental and regional fixtures ahead, squad rotation and recovery are set to become increasingly important for Polking as Cong An Ha Noi FC navigate one of the busiest schedules in Vietnamese club football.
VSN/RPT
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