(Photo: VFF)

Congratulating the team for their victory at the AFF U23 Championship, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Saturday said the victory is of special significance because the team surmounted numerous difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrated the strong determination and amazing spirit of the Vietnamese people.

Prime Minister Chinh lauded the team and their coaches for their victory, calling it “a prideworthy victory”. The players have confronted numerous challenges due to the pandemic during the tournament, the PM said, but with Vietnamese courage and the spirit of “yellow star warriors”, the players and their coaches surmounted these challenges to bring joy and pride to their homeland.

“Flexibly adapting” in the most effective way ever, the Vietnamese team defeated their Thai rivals in the final match. The team was dangerously short of players after multiple players tested positive for coronavirus, and reinforcements had to be called in. The 10 players added to the team all performed outstandingly in the final match.

Commentator Quang Huy said the path to victory of the Vietnamese U23 team was the most memorable one in the history of Vietnamese football. The team was truly deserving of their regional championship victory.

"This is the most memorable season for coach Dinh The Nam and his team. The team played with bravery. They demonstrated their talent and professionalism. With such memorable experience, we’re confident that our players have grown up, even beyond our expectation. We are really hopeful about them. I believe that 5 to 7 players of this team will be called for the SEA Games and the Asian U23 Championship,' said Huy.