CAND FC Restructures for 2026/27 V.League: PVF-CAND Academy Transferred, Minister Expects 'Worthy of Name' Development

The handover ceremony of the PVF-CAND youth football training center took place in a solemn atmosphere at the headquarters of the Ministry of Public Security. As Chairman of CAND FC, Major General Duong Duc Hai, signed the handover minutes to the representative of Hung Yen FC, I was reminded of hundreds of mornings standing at the Camp des Loges training ground observing young players repeating dribbling drills. Vietnamese football is witnessing a strategic transition: not an expensive player contract, but the relocation of an entire youth development foundation. The context of this decision lies within the strategy to develop CAND FC in a professional, modern, and sustainable direction. Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang emphasized the requirement for the club to develop "worthy of its name," not just stopping at V.League promotion but also aiming for regional and continental goals. The transfer of the PVF-CAND academy to Hung Yen FC is seen as a strategic move to preserve the youth training system while the first team focuses resources on the promotion goal. The core of this restructuring lies in the expectations placed on young players Ly Duc, Thanh Nhan, and Minh Phuc. These three names are not just the future of CAND FC but also evidence of the sustainable development philosophy pursued by the Ministry of Public Security leadership. Alongside them, three new signings introduced at the ceremony — goalkeeper Dinh Trieu, striker Viktor Le, and Minh Vuong — show deliberate reinforcement: stabilizing the goalkeeper position and strengthening attacking firepower. The combination of new signings' experience and the youth's enthusiasm creates a new look for the public security team. Contrary to the external view that the academy transfer signals reduced investment, reality shows this is a deeply calculated decision. Transferring PVF-CAND to Hung Yen does not disrupt the talent flow; instead, it creates a parallel system: Hung Yen FC will be the nurturing ground, while CAND FC will be the springboard to the national team. The lesson from World Cup 2026 when I observed Olivier Giroud continuously pressing and recovering balls without scoring shows: the true value of a system lies not in flashy immediate numbers. The contributions of CAND players in the ASEAN Cup 2026 triumph are the clearest evidence of this model's effectiveness. The next signal to watch is CAND FC's performance in the First Division during the 2026/27 season. With strong financial backing from the Ministry of Public Security and a methodical development strategy, can this team realize its V.League promotion goal in the first season of the restructuring cycle? The answer will come from the runs of Ly Duc, Thanh Nhan, and Minh Phuc on the pitch, not from statements made in press conference rooms.