Physical and Fitness Limitations of Vietnamese Football Players
Recent friendly matches have exposed the physical and fitness limitations of Vietnamese footballers. This ongoing issue has consistently hindered Vietnam’s performance in international competitions.
To address this critical concern, LPBank has pledged to support Vietnamese sports by enhancing the physique and fitness of players. In alignment with the Prime Minister’s Decree No. 641/QD-TTg of April 28, 2011, which approved the Comprehensive Plan for Physical and Height Development of Vietnamese People from 2011 to 2030, LPBank will collaborate with relevant agencies on a project to improve players’ physical attributes. The aim is to develop a generation of players with ideal physiques and fitness levels, comparable to current stars like Doan Van Hau, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Hoang Duc, Duc Chien, and Ho Tan Tai.
Crucial Physical Deficiencies
During the recent AFC U23 Asian Cup, the average height of Vietnamese U23 players was among the lowest. According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the average height of 368 players from 16 participating teams was 1.789m. Eight teams fell below this average, with Vietnam ranking 14th out of 16 teams in terms of height.
Furthermore, poor physicality and strength have contributed to the team’s inability to advance beyond the quarter-finals and compete effectively against opponents with superior physical attributes. This has been a persistent challenge for Vietnamese football for many years, without significant improvements.
Developing Players with Ideal Physical Attributes
The question of how to cultivate more players with exceptional physiques like Hoang Duc, Duc Chien, Ho Tan Tai, Doan Van Hau, and Bui Hoang Viet Anh remains a critical challenge for Vietnamese sports and football in general. Overcoming physical shortcomings is essential to avoid setbacks in international competitions.
The General Department of Physical Education and Sports has recently organized a workshop on the role of nutritional supplements in enhancing performance and preventing doping among elite athletes. The workshop aimed to explore solutions for improving the physicality and stature of elite athletes, including football players. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has also organized workshops on enhancing fitness and nutrition for players.
According to Dang Ha Viet, Director of the General Department of Physical Education and Sports, nutrition before, during, and after training is crucial for elite athletes, especially those preparing for major competitions. The government is actively analyzing and understanding the nutritional needs of athletes to determine the necessary support and supplements for optimal performance and well-being.
Currently, the sports industry is collaborating with experts to establish nutritional guidelines and meal plans tailored to national team athletes. These plans will be complemented by appropriate training regimens designed to enhance height, weight, muscle groups, endurance, and strength, specific to the demands of each sport.
LPBank’s Support for Football Teams to Enhance League Quality and Player Development
According to recent news, LPBank has made a significant commitment to Vietnamese football by supporting the improvement of league quality and player physicality. LPBank aims to contribute to the development of sports through an initiative focused on enhancing the physical attributes of future football stars.
LPBank’s Ongoing Commitment to Community Development
LPBank’s support for sports is part of its broader commitment to social responsibility, as outlined in its “Integrating Social Responsibility into Business” philosophy. The bank’s contributions to Vietnamese sports include funding for the LPBank Ninh Binh Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Clubs, the LPBank – Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Academy, the LPBank – HAGL Football Club, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Football Club, and the Phu Dong – Ninh Binh Football Club. In October 2022, LPBank co-sponsored the broadcast rights for the World Cup, bringing the tournament to Vietnamese fans.
LPBank has actively invested over 3,500 billion VND in community and social initiatives, focusing on five key pillars: education and human resource development, healthcare, culture and sports, social welfare, and support for the development of impoverished localities. In 2023 alone, the bank’s total contributions to social and community initiatives amounted to nearly 500 billion VND, including the sponsorship of the Martyr’s Memorial in Dien Bien Phu, a project valued at nearly 200 billion VND, in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. LPBank also provided funding for the construction of the Truong Son Martyrs Memorial in Quang Binh, with a value of approximately 50 billion VND.
Education and training remain LPBank’s primary focus, receiving the highest proportion of its social investment. To date, LPBank and its shareholders have funded the construction of over 280 national-standard schools, functional buildings, libraries, conference halls, and other facilities dedicated to education across the country. The bank has also established and supported 12 scholarship funds and various educational programs.
In the healthcare sector, LPBank and ThaiGroup were among the first organizations to support the acquisition of vaccines, easing the burden on the government by contributing nearly 100 billion VND for monoclonal antibody vaccines against COVID-19 and approximately 250 billion VND for test kits. LPBank has consistently supported the construction, renovation, and repair of healthcare facilities, hospitals, and medical equipment. Notable contributions include the Vietnam France Hospital and the Central Geriatric Hospital.
Alongside the effective development of its business operations, LPBank remains committed to supporting local communities through meaningful initiatives. These activities include contributions to the Fund for the Poor, livelihood support for local communities, funding for social housing construction, transportation infrastructure, welfare projects in rural areas, and remote regions.
LPBank’s consistent and tangible actions have earned the bank recognition as the number one in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), pursuing sustainable and prudent development, and pledging to implement activities with the highest values.
