Trung Kien brings good news after the U23 Asian Championship defeat, while Dinh Bac can only sigh in disappointment.

After a difficult period both mentally and physically, young goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien of Hoang Anh Gia Lai has officially marked an impressive return by being included in the Vietnamese national team's squad for the March 2026 training camp.

Not long ago, Vietnamese football fans were worried when they saw images of Tran Trung Kien appearing with a gaunt face, tired expression, and noticeably thinner physique. This unusual change led many to question the health of the 1.91m tall goalkeeper – considered one of the most promising talents in Vietnamese football.

Subsequent revelations showed that Trung Kien had gone through a real crisis. In a short period, he lost 7kg, severely impacting his physical condition. The main reason stemmed from the psychological shock following the Vietnamese youth team's defeat at the U23 Asian Championship earlier this year.

The crucial defeats in this tournament plunged the young goalkeeper into a state of self-blame. The pressure from fans' expectations, coupled with disappointment over the results, led to prolonged insomnia. This caused Trung Kien's weight to drop rapidly, affecting his performance and ability to maintain fitness on the field.

Faced with this situation, Trung Kien chose not to avoid the challenge but decided to confront it head-on. With the encouragement of the coaching staff and his teammates at Hoang Anh Gia Lai, he began his journey of recovery, both physically and mentally.

The young goalkeeper adopted a special diet to quickly regain his fitness. In addition, he maintained a high-intensity gym routine to restore muscle mass and improve endurance. These rigorous training sessions helped Trung Kien gradually regain his form and the necessary confidence.

Despite not being in perfect physical condition, Trung Kien has shown impressive form for Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the V.League 1 2025/26 season. In the team's lineup, he is a reliable pillar in goal.

According to statistics, after 14 matches as the starting goalkeeper, Trung Kien has made a total of 62 saves – the highest number in the tournament so far. His quick reflexes, along with his height and long reach, have helped him make many spectacular saves for his team.

That consistent performance completely convinced head coach Kim Sang-sik to include Trung Kien in the preliminary squad for the Vietnamese national team during the FIFA Days training camp in March 2026. This is considered a well-deserved recognition for the young goalkeeper's efforts to overcome difficulties. In contrast to Trung Kien, Dinh Bac, who fought alongside the goalkeeper at the U23 Asian Championship, was not called up to the national team, a fact that many regret.

However, Trung Kien's chances of securing a starting position in the national team are not easy. This training camp has seen fierce competition for the goalkeeping spot, as he has to compete against a host of experienced goalkeepers such as Nguyen Filip, Dang Van Lam, Patrik Le Giang, and Nguyen Dinh Trieu.

This is a rare occasion where the Vietnamese national team possesses three high-quality Vietnamese-born goalkeepers simultaneously, creating fierce but positive competition. This provides the coaching staff with more tactical options in finding the most suitable goalkeeper. In the near future, the Vietnamese national team is expected to have two important matches, against Bangladesh and Malaysia respectively, in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Dinh Bac returns to his hometown to take family photos, revealing shocking secrets and his true personality. Trần Mạn11:02:57 28/02/2026After a series of intense and demanding matches with the Vietnam U23 team, young striker Nguyen Dinh Bac has temporarily put aside the spotlight to return to his hometown of Nghe An, enjoying peaceful moments with his family.