Ho Chi Minh City Police and the revival of a symbol

When the final whistle of the 2025/26 National Cup final sounded at Ninh Binh Arena on June 14 night, the Ho Chi Minh City Police players hugged in ecstatic celebration. The 2-1 win against Ninh Binh delivered the club's first major cup in its V-League history and brought an emotional end to the campaign.

Few expected Ho Chi Minh City Police to finish the season in such impressive style. Having faced numerous difficulties, professional upheavals, and performance pressures, the team from the city named after Uncle Ho once struggled in the V-League race.

Utzig had an outstanding game for Ho Chi Minh City Police with one goal and one assist. Photo: Dinh Vien

However, a turning point came from round 23 when head coach Phung Thanh Phuong firmly established his mark on the team's playing style and competitive spirit.

Lee Williams contributed 9 goals and deservedly became Ho Chi Minh City Police's best performer this season. Photo: Dinh Vien

From then on, Ho Chi Minh City Police began an impressive unbeaten streak that lasted until the end of the season. Not only did they finish among the top five teams in the V-League, but they also successively overcame formidable opponents in the National Cup to claim a convincing title.

From a 4-2 victory over Nam Dinh in the semi-finals to a decisive away win against Ninh Binh in the final, the southern team proved that the championship was no stroke of luck but the result of a powerful transformation.

This is an unexpected achievement for the southern representative. Photo: Dinh Vien

The most commendable aspect under coach Phung Thanh Phuong was unity. While early in the season, Ho Chi Minh City Police was sometimes viewed as a disjointed squad, in the final rounds fans witnessed a completely different face. Players prioritized the team, willingly sacrificing personal gain for the collective style.

In particular, the foreign players became true warriors. Raphael Utzig, Lee Williams, and others displayed fierce fighting spirit in every play. They not only contributed professionally but also spread the desire to win throughout the team.

Among the standout figures, Lee Williams deserves recognition as the team's most interesting discovery this season. The 19-year-old overseas Vietnamese striker scored 9 goals across all competitions—a remarkable tally for a young player in his first top-flight experience in Vietnam. Possessing speed, intelligent movement, and sharp finishing, Williams also showed astonishing composure in big matches.

In the National Cup final, it was Lee Williams who scored to make it 2-0 with a blazing run and cool finish, giving the visitors a huge advantage.

That could be seen as a turning-point moment, bringing Ho Chi Minh City Police closer to the historic cup. The goal not only showcased the talent of the 2007-born youngster but also hinted at a promising future for Vietnamese football.

The end-of-season results are the clearest proof. A top-five V-League finish, the National Cup title, and a spot as Vietnam's representative in Southeast Asian club competitions far exceeded many people's expectations when the season began.

More importantly, the team rekindled pride in the image of a Ho Chi Minh City Police rich in identity, ambition, and the ability to overcome challenges to reach the summit.

After years of waiting, the city's fans finally saw a Ho Chi Minh City Police that resembled the golden era of the past. The 2025/26 National Cup championship may just be the start of a new cycle of success.

Given what they have shown, the Ho Chi Minh City Police squad fully deserves significant rewards from the club's leadership and the local authorities.