Coach Polking: Cao Quang Vinh and Adou Minh are eager to join the national team, Kim Sang Sik will be satisfied

In a press session this afternoon at the CAHN Club headquarters, coach Alexandre Polking drew attention from the media as he praised two defenders, Cao Quang Vinh and Adou Minh. He confirmed that both are very eager to wear the Vietnam national team jersey at the 2026 ASEAN Cup, and expressed confidence that coach Kim Sang Sik will be satisfied with what they show.

Cao Quang Vinh, a 25-year-old left-back, is no stranger to fans. He has been called up to the national team before, and at CAHN, he has shown consistency on the left flank. Meanwhile, Adou Minh, a French-born center-back, has just completed legal procedures to officially play for Vietnam. Polking revealed that in the club's most recent match, the duo contributed significantly to a clean sheet. That performance has reinforced his belief in their abilities.

However, eagerness is one thing, readiness is another. This story recalls the 2026 ASEAN Cup, when CAHN did not hesitate to release as many as six players to the national team, including Dinh Bac, who later became joint top scorer with five goals. Vietnam won the title, and CAHN accepted sacrificing domestic success for the national cause.

The 2026 ASEAN Cup, according to the schedule, falls outside the FIFA Days where clubs are obliged to release players. This means CAHN's willingness to allow two key players to join the national team is indeed a significant gesture. Polking has not just paid lip service; he has proactively met with coach Kim Sang Sik multiple times to discuss balancing club and national team interests. The relationship between the two strategists is said to be quite open, and this could open doors for CAHN players to be noticed by the Korean coach.

From a tactical standpoint, adding an energetic left-back like Cao Quang Vinh and a physically imposing center-back like Adou Minh would help Vietnam deepen their defensive options. At the ASEAN Cup, strong teams like Thailand and Indonesia often exert huge pressure in aerial duels and one-on-one challenges. Adou Minh, with his European football background, could provide the solidity the domestic defense needs.

Yet one must face the reality: there is only about a month of preparation before the tournament. Adou Minh has never played with his new national teammates. Center-back is a position that requires understanding in covering and organizing the backline. If he is rushed into the starting lineup, the risk of errors is significant. Football has witnessed countless cases where players adapted quickly at club level but went silent internationally due to lack of chemistry. This is the blind spot that many fans may overlook when focusing only on Polking's praise.

Cao Quang Vinh also faces a different challenge. He tends to push forward in attack, which could leave space behind when facing fast-countering teams. Kim Sang Sik will need to carefully consider how to use him in specific matches.

Looking at the bigger picture, CAHN's decision to release players sets a positive precedent. If a club as ambitious as CAHN is willing to sacrifice for the national team, other clubs will find it hard to stay out. The strength of Vietnamese football lies not only in individual quality but also in collective unity among stakeholders. In exchange, CAHN must manage its squad during the first leg of the V-League. Losing two key players, or even more, during a sensitive phase could cost points. That is not an easy trade-off.

The image of Polking standing on the training ground, watching his two students, reminds me of a refrain: People remember the name of the goalscorer, but I remember the run ten seconds before. In football, the moments preceding a goal often matter just as much. Similarly, the effort of two CAHN defenders to convince the national team staff is the visible tip of a much longer story.

From the stands, I learn to count time by breaths, not minutes. For Adou Minh, the wait to wear the red jersey with a yellow star may have spanned his youth. For Cao Quang Vinh, taking part in an ASEAN Cup would prove his relentless efforts.

The crux of the matter is not whether they will be called up, but whether they are truly ready to make a difference in a grueling tournament like the ASEAN Cup.

Coach Kim Sang Sik has many options at his disposal. But given Polking's remarks, the Korean coach will certainly have to take a closer look at these two names. And when the final decision is made, it will not rely solely on a club coach's praise, but on tactical pragmatism.

The pitch never lies; we simply have not been slow enough to listen. Until then, everything is but preparation. For Cao Quang Vinh and Adou Minh, the opportunity is within reach. They just need to turn Polking's praise into convincing performances in training. And who knows, they might just write a new chapter in Vietnamese football history at the 2026 ASEAN Cup.