Dinh Bac makes Coach Kim Sang Sik sweat after the AFC U23 Championship

Unlike his outstanding performance with the Vietnam U23 team, Dinh Bac is experiencing a challenging period as he "goes silent" wearing the CAHN jersey.

After the AFC U23 Championship 2026, Dinh Bac became the most talked-about player in Vietnamese football. However, contrary to his excellent displays in international tournaments with Vietnam U23, Dinh Bac is struggling quite a bit while playing for Hanoi Police Club.

After winning the "Top Scorer" title at the continental tournament, Dinh Bac returned to Vietnam with high expectations from fans. However, despite playing 6 matches in V-League and ACL2, Dinh Bac has yet to score any goals. In fact, during the first-leg match between CAHN and Tampines Rovers (ACL2) on February 11, Dinh Bac scored a goal, but it was ultimately revoked because CAHN was ruled to have lost.

Statistics also show that after 13 consecutive rounds in V-League with over 1000 minutes of play, Dinh Bac still hasn't managed to score. For a forward, that figure quickly becomes a topic of discussion among supporters.

Nevertheless, the gap between youth tournaments and professional competitions is unavoidable. Compared to U23-level tournaments, V-League has a more intense pace of play, teams organize disciplined and tight defenses, making young forwards face greater challenges. Additionally, the psychological aspect also significantly affects strikers' form. When a goal drought extends, pressure easily mounts.

It's no coincidence that CAHN's coach Mano Polking always says Dinh Bac “is still a young player, with much to learn and develop." Dinh Bac is the brightest gem in Vietnamese football currently, and the challenges in domestic competitions promise to greatly aid him in his maturation journey.