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19-year-old forward Nguyễn Quốc Việt of Việt Nam (left) competes in a match between Việt Nam and Singapore during the AFF U23 Championship in February in Cambodia. Photo of VFF
Thanh Hà
Việt Nam's U19 team failed to take the regional championship trophy, but Nguyễn Quốc Việt shined brilliantly to be honoured as the top scorer in the tournament recently held in Indonesia.
With five goals in five matches, Việt has lifted his level. The ‘King' of domestic junior leagues has begun dominating the regional youth championships.
Việt was not a regular face of Việt Nam’s starting line at the tournament. He was even not given a minute to play in a previous group round match, but Việt showed his sharp scoring skills and smart runs off the ball, which guaranteed him a shot in the near future.
Born to score
Việt was born in Hải Phòng City in 2003 and made his name with the U13 team of Hải Dương, which won the Yamaha Cup U13 Football Championship in 2016.
His impressive performance and scoring caught the eyes of coach Guillaume Graechen of Hoàng Anh Gia Lai JMG Academy (now Nutifood JMG Academy), and he brought Việt to Plei Ku for intensive training to be a professional.
Nguyễn Quốc Việt seen in a training session when Việt Nam prepare for the AFF U19 Championship tournament. - PHOTO of VFF
“I believe the U13 football tournament that year (2016) was a key point in my life. I met Graechen, who put me straight...