Former players Cong Vinh and Minh Chien hope that Ho Chi Minh City football will soon return to its golden era.

A youth football workshop was held on the morning of June 10 in Ho Chi Minh City, hosted by Thien Long Sport, drawing former national stars including Le Cong Vinh, Tran Minh Chien, Nguyen The Anh, and Luong Trung Tuan, as well as numerous experts, coaches, and parents passionate about youth football.

The experts emphasized that, in order to bringHo Chi Minh City footballback to its golden age, it is necessary to patiently start with the young player generation and build a sustainable foundation for the future.

VFF Vice President Nguyen Xuan Vu stated that professional football can only develop when the youth foundation is solid.

He hopes that training centers, sponsors, and the community will join hands to create a favorable environment for the children to train and compete.

"We must be patient, provide opportunities for exposure and comprehensive development for young players. This is the key toHo Chi Minh City footballreviving its brilliance," he emphasized.

Former coach Tran Minh Chien shared his experience in discovering and training young talents, emphasizing the importance of technique, tactics, and appropriate training volume according to age groups.

He also expressed appreciation for the parents who accompany and help the children develop both mentally and physically.

Meanwhile, former Vietnam national team captainLe Cong Vinhbelieved that the children need a real playground where they can both have fun and be screened to prepare for the professional environment.

Former goalkeeperNguyen The Anhemphasized that youth training in Ho Chi Minh City still faces many difficulties, from facilities and finances to tactical consistency. He proposed building a synchronized training system from youth to professional levels, while coordinating centers to create competition and learning opportunities for players.

Former center-back Luong Trung Tuan said that although there are many centers, Ho Chi Minh City still lacks strong enough centers to retain players after training. Currently, many young talents have to join larger and more professional training academies, making it difficult for the city to keep a successor force.

For now, Thien Long Sport will organizethe U15 Youth Football Festival, scheduled from June 16 to 22 at Thang Long Football Field. The tournament brings together at least 12 teams from community football centers and talent training centers.

The teams are drawn into three groups of four, playing round-robin, with the top six teams and the two best performers advancing to the quarterfinals. Teams that lose in the group stage and quarterfinals continue to play for rankings, ensuring maximum matches and exposure for players.

The organizing committee emphasized that the spirit of the tournament is exchange, fun, and talent development. Parents also enthusiastically participated to provide a meaningful summer for the children. The committee mobilized sponsors for uniforms, balls, and fields, helping create a favorable competition environment.

Current prizes include cups, flags, and joy, but in the long run, the organizing committee aims for more professional goals, laying the groundwork for a synchronized and systematic youth training system, hoping to contribute to reviving Ho Chi Minh City football.