Coach Kim Sang-sik explains waving towels and folding water bottles in the final match

VHO - Immediately after the victory over U23 Indonesia to win the U23 Southeast Asian Championship for the third consecutive time, coach Kim Sang-sik shared frankly at the press conference. He expressed his pride in the fighting spirit of his players, and explained the special actions on the sidelines such as waving towels and folding water bottles - which had aroused curiosity among fans.

Coach Kim Sang-sik continues to reap success with Vietnamese football

On the evening of July 29, Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (Jakarta) was ablaze with the enthusiastic atmosphere of more than 80,000 fans.

On that field, U23 Vietnam played a match full of courage, overcoming the huge pressure from the stands and the fierce play of the home team to win 1-0, completing a hat-trick of U23 Southeast Asian championships (2022, 2023, 2025).

Immediately after the match, coach Kim Sang-sik and striker Nguyen Dinh Bac – the best player of the final match and also the Best Player of the tournament – had some remarkable sharing in the post-match press conference.

Speaking to the international media, coach Kim Sang-sik could not hide his emotion:

“I am very happy and proud that U23 Vietnam has won the championship for the third consecutive time. This victory is a reward for the resilient fighting spirit, the relentless efforts and especially the serious preparation process over the past month. Thank you to all the fans who came to the stadium and cheered from home.”

The Korean strategist frankly admitted that he was under a lot of pressure when playing away, with a huge audience completely supporting the opponent:

“I felt pressure, but I believed in the team’s preparation. The match was very difficult, Indonesia played aggressively and at a high pace. But my players fought patiently, kept their focus and deserved to win.”

Notably, throughout the second half, Mr. Kim Sang-sik continuously waved the towel in his hand to direct from the sidelines – an image that made many people curious. Explaining this action, he said:

“Because the stadium is so big and the noise from the stands is so loud, verbal instructions are not effective. I use scarves to transmit tactical signals – mainly calling on the players to continue pressing and keep the appropriate team distance.”

Responding frankly to the suspicion that U23 Vietnam placed water bottles on the sidelines to prevent opponents from throwing the ball, the Korean coach denied:

“The weather is very hot, we arrange the water bottles like that so that the players can easily get and drink water, there is no other purpose.”

When asked how much of the plan the team had implemented, coach Kim Sang-sik admitted that U23 Vietnam did not create many dangerous attacks, but the important goal was to control the match and maintain stability in defense:

“In the hot weather and the constant intensity of the game, the players did their best. The important thing was to keep our cool, not get caught up in the opponent's play and defend the result until the last minute.”

According to coach Kim, maintaining a minimal score in the face of intense pressure from Indonesia is proof of the tactical maturity of the young Vietnamese team - which he considers "a core value to go further".

With his consistent performance and ability to create breakthroughs on the left flank, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac deserves two titles: Best Player of the Final Match and Best Player of the Tournament. In the press conference, Dinh Bac shared briefly but emotionally:

“I am very happy and excited. This is the third consecutive championship of U23 Vietnam, the result of the solidarity and common belief of the whole team. Before the tournament, we set the goal of winning the championship and today we have achieved it.”

The young player from Quang Nam also emphasized that success at the regional tournament will be a great motivation to move towards the challenges ahead such as the U23 Asian qualifiers or the SEA Games: "The whole team determined that this is not the destination, but a stepping stone to strive further."

Although not possessing a squad superior in terms of physique or experience compared to host Indonesia, U23 Vietnam demonstrated disciplined play, high organization and flexible tactical adaptation.

From clearing long throw-ins from opponents, controlling the midfield to capitalizing on set-piece opportunities – all show careful preparation in both tactics and mentality.

The victory not only brought joy, but also clearly demonstrated the sustainable development orientation of Vietnamese youth football - where values such as courage, discipline and initiative are being laid as the foundation for the long-term future.

Watch the full 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Football Championship Mandiri Cup™ live on FPT Play, visit http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/hlv-kim-sangsik-ly-giai-viec-vay-khan-xep-chai-nuoc-trong-tran-chung-ket-157491.html