HÀ NỘI — Website fourfourtwo.com of the UK has named Vietnamese footballers Hà Đức Chinh and Hồ Minh Dĩ in its list of 20 best footballers under the age of 20 in Southeast Asia.

Previously known by the less than kind nickname ‘wooden leg’, 19-year-old Chinh has well and truly cast aside that moniker over the past 18 months.

“In that time he’s emerged as the most important option in front of goal for a Vietnamese team that’s preparing to participate in this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup,” said the website.

“A modern forward who is powerful and direct, he possesses good pace and a strong technique that makes him a threat both in the air and on the ground and he already looks like being the attacking centrepiece at his new V.League side Đà Nẵng. Comfortable either as a central striker or in the role he occupies for the national team, part of a two-man frontline, he’s fast earning a reputation for being not just a goalscorer, but also a scorer of important goals,” the website added.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old  forward Dĩ was never supposed to be a footballer; when he enrolled in trials as an 11-year-old at youth club PVF he stood just 1.31m tall and weighed 27kg.

Having beaten off 200 other hopefuls, however, he made the squad and from there it’s been a dramatic rise for the still pint-sized (1.59m) winger.

Already established as a regular in the PVF senior team, he was snapped up this year by V.League champions Hà Nội T&T, with his previous coach praising his “incredible talent on the ball and abilities to pass and shoot”, said the website.

“Firmly ensconced on the left wing of the World Cup-bound under-20 national team, Dĩ, who loves to take on opponents one-on-one, is regarded as one of the most electric young attacking talents in Southeast Asia,” the website added. 

Besides two Vietnamese players, the fourfourtwo.com also named Supachok Sarachat of Thailand, Marco Casambre of the Philippines, Daniel de Silva of Australia, Safawi Rasid of Malaysia and Pandi Lestaluhu of Indonesia. — VNS