Indonesia. According to Kim Sang-sik, naturalized players Do Hoang Hen and Nguyen Tai Loc have struggled at the FIFA ASEAN Cup because of injuries and poor fitness.
Along with Xuan Son, Hoang Hen and Tai Loc are three Brazil-born players naturalized by Vietnam and called up for the ASEAN Cup and FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Only Xuan Son stood out at the ASEAN Cup before suffering an injury and returning home early from the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The other two have been below form at the tournament in Indonesia.
Kim said both players had played for a long period at the ASEAN Cup before returning to the V-League, leaving them tired and dealing with injuries. As a result, they did not reach the FIFA ASEAN Cup in their best physical condition.
“Tai Loc had a minor injury and did not play in the V-League. There was little time to recover after he joined the national team, so his fitness was affected. Hoang Hen played continuously and could not show 100% of his ability,” Kim said on October 4.
Do Hoang Hen, whose Brazilian name is Hendrio Araujo da Silva, was born on May 16, 1994, in Sao Paulo. He trained at La Masia, Real Betis and Recreativo de Huelva before playing for clubs in Europe and South America. He moved to Vietnam in late 2020 and received Vietnamese citizenship on October 16, 2025.
Nguyen Tai Loc, formerly known as Geovane Magno, was born on April 14, 1994, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Geovane moved to Vietnam in 2019 and received citizenship on April 29, 2026.
Kim said Hoang Hen and Tai Loc were unlikely to play in the third-place match. Centre-back Bui Hoang Viet Anh was also uncertain because of a muscle injury. “Preparation has been difficult for us. But the more difficult it is, the more united the team must be to create a victory,” the coach said.
Kim has led Vietnam to consecutive ASEAN Cup titles in 2024 and 2026 and helped the under-23 team win gold at the 33rd SEA Games. Vietnam could not reach the final of this FIFA ASEAN Cup.
Kim said he, the players and supporters were disappointed. “It is unfortunate that the tournament regulations do not include a semifinal. But the players have worked hard to reach the third-place match. We will try to get the best result,” he said.
Vietnam beat Malaysia 4-0 on aggregate in the ASEAN Cup semifinals nearly a month ago. Kim said Malaysia is much stronger this time and singled out naturalized striker Bergson da Silva, who scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Singapore.
Sources: VnExpress
