Vietnam Wins Police Football Championship Title
In a thrilling display of football and camaraderie, Vietnam's police team, Việt Nam 2, clinched the title at the ASEAN Police Football Open 2021. The tournament, held to celebrate the 80th Việt Nam People's Public Security Traditional Day and the 20th National Security Day, was sponsored by T&T Group and SHB Bank.
The tournament aimed to contribute to ensuring peace, security, safety, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world. It was chaired by the Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with the Việt Nam Football Federation.
The tournament featured eight teams from across the region and beyond, with Việt Nam 2 securing most of the individual awards. Vũ Mạnh Duy scored a goal for Việt Nam in the 68th minute, while Nguyễn Đức Phú opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Trần Đức Nam made it 2-0 for Việt Nam just before halftime, and he was also awarded the Top Scorer award in the tournament.
The final match was held at Hàng Đẫy Stadium, where Việt Nam 2 defeated Cambodia 4-0. Nguyễn Nhu Tuấn, Vũ Mạnh Duy, and another two unnamed players scored for Việt Nam, while Cambodia received $15,000 as consolation.
Timor Leste and Thailand each received $5,000 and claimed bronze medals. Nattawoot Saengdara of Thailand was voted the best goalkeeper, and Nam, a player from Việt Nam 2, received the Most Valuable Player award.
The tournament was not just a sporting event, but also an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in ensuring security and order and fighting and preventing crimes, especially transnational crimes. Participants experienced Vietnamese culture and heritage, with visits to sites like Ha Long Bay and cultural performances during the gala and opening ceremonies, enhancing the tournament's role in promoting Vietnam's national brand and tourism.
Vinh, Vice President of T&T Group, expressed that the development of enterprises must be closely linked to the development of society, and they are honoured to become the main sponsor of the tournament. The event was supported actively by the Ministry of Public Security, with private sector participation, aimed at promoting Vietnam's international image of peace, hospitality, and dynamic culture.
While precise details on the 2021 edition are not widely available, the structure and objectives of the ASEAN Police Football tournaments, as illustrated by the 2025 event, provide a strong indication of its nature and purpose. The tournament served as a meaningful playground for the police-players, contributing to strengthening the relationship between police forces of different countries through sports.
- The ASEAN Police Football Open 2021, sponsored by T&T Group and SHB Bank, was not merely a sports event, but also an opportunity to foster cooperation in ensuring security and order, and in fighting and preventing crimes.
- In addition to sporting prowess, the tournament offered participants an immersion in Vietnamese culture, with visits to sites like Ha Long Bay and cultural performances during the gala and opening ceremonies.
- The tournament, held to celebrate the 80th Việt Nam People's Public Security Traditional Day and the 20th National Security Day, aimed to contribute to ensuring peace, security, safety, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) could play a significant role in sports-analysis, potentially providing valuable insights for strategic planning and performance improvement in future editions of the ASEAN Police Football Open.
