Former football star Pham Huynh Tam Lang (L) and central fullback Xuan Hop carry the Merdeka Cup at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport

Vietnam’s U.22 team which brought glory to national football by winning the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia on Saturday received a hero’s welcome at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport Sunday.

Present at the airport were Vietnam Football Federation representatives and two former players of the team from South Vietnam – Pham Huynh Tam Lang and Nguyen Van Mong – who last won the cup in 1966.

“The current players have helped us remember the beautiful day 42 years ago when we captured the Merdeka Cup after beating Myanmar 1-0 in the final,” Lang said.

He also praised the excellent performance of central fullback Xuan Hop, who manned the same position as Lang during his prime.

The U.22 team will rest today and hold practice sessions starting tomorrow to prepare for a friendly against Brazil’s former footballers this Friday at HCMC’s Thong Nhat Stadium.

Reported by Quang Huy