HANOI/SINGAPORE: Ho Chi Minh City Police FC goalkeeper Patrik Lê Giang is relishing the chance to rub shoulders with the region’s leading teams as the Vietnamese outfit prepares to resume its Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup campaign against defending champions Buriram United FC in two weeks.
The club is making their debut in the tournament after lifting the Vietnamese National Cup last season, its first victory in the competition in more than 25 years, and Patrik and his teammates are excited by the opportunity to test themselves against the 'crème de la crème' of Asean football.
“It's a big, big tournament, not just for me personally, but for the whole club because it's the first time the club is playing in this competition,” says Patrik.
“It's always best to face the strongest opponents. This is what we want, and this is what we want to have in our DNA so we can see the real strength of our team. We can show a lot.”
Ho Chi Minh City Police started their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Thailand’s Ratchaburi FC in Group A last month when a stoppage-time equaliser from Scott Allardice denied the Arthur Diles-coached V.League 1 side a win on their tournament debut.
They next take on regional kingpins, Buriram United on November 18 at Thống Nhất Stadium, which will mark a return to their home stadium since renovation works for the 2026 Vietnam National Games were completed.
“We know about Buriram, and they're a very strong team and are back-to-back champions,” says Patrik.
“It will be the first game in our renovated new stadium, so I hope the people will come to support us. We are looking forward to it because Buriram is a big club in Thailand, and we know they have quality players.
“The Shopee Cup is totally different from the domestic league. We are not focusing on who we are playing against, but on our strength, and of course, we respect the opponents.
“In this competition, it's not about how they play in a domestic league, but every team has its own quality. I believe it will be a great game.”
Patrik is in his fourth season in Vietnam, having made the decision to move to his father’s homeland from Slovakia, where he was born, in 2023.
After initially signing for Công An Hanoi FC from Slovak side FK Pohronie, he was loaned to Ho Chi Minh City Police and, after a season in the southern city, the 34-year-old made that move permanent in 2024.
Having played at youth level for Slovakia, Patrik switched international allegiance and was called up to play for Vietnam earlier this year and starred for Kim Sang-sik’s side as the Golden Star Warriors won the Asean Hyundai CupT2026 in August.
“I see the vision of the club, and I see the vision of Vietnamese football,” he says. “They want to develop, and that's why I'm here as well to help them develop football in the country. And I believe they are on the right
way.
“I'm a person who always sets the highest goals or targets, but of course we also have to be realistic,” he says of Ho Chi Minh City Police’s ambitions in the tournament.
“After 25 years, we just won the National Cup last season, and we qualified for the Shopee Cup. So it's amazing; it's a great achievement. We cannot stop here; it's just the beginning of the journey. It's not that we are already at the top; it takes time.
“It's a great opportunity for us to face great opponents because when I was with the national team, my teammates told me: you will love the tournament because it's a great competition and it's different than the V.League.”
The performance in their Group A opener against Ratchaburi has given the Ho Chi Minh City Police squad confidence that it can compete in the Shopee Cup, where the club will also face Tampines Rovers FC, Kuching City FC, Borneo FC Samarinda and Manila Digger FC.
“We have a young squad, and it's the first time they are playing in such a big competition,” says Patrik. “We just played one game against Ratchaburi. We showed our quality. It was a great first experience. And now we will build up.
“My life’s philosophy is step by step, so we will go game by game and step by step.
“I don't want to say we will definitely fight to be the champions, but I know we will do our best and we will give our best to represent not just our club but the country as well.”
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Wednesday, November 18 / Group A
Tampines Rovers FC (SGP) v Ratchaburi FC (THA), Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore, 7.30pm (local) / 11.30am (GMT)
Ho Chi Minh City Police FC (VIE) v Buriram United FC (THA), Bình Dương Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City, 7.30pm (local) / 12.30pm (GMT)
Borneo FC Samarinda (IDN) v Manila Digger FC (PHI), Segiri Stadium, Samarinda, 8pm (local) / 12pm (GMT)
Thursday, November 19 / Group B
Công An Hà Nội FC (VIE) v Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (MAS), Hang Day Stadium, Hanoi, 7.30pm (local) / 12.30pm (GMT)
PKR Svay Rieng FC (CAM) v Port FC (THA), Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh, 7pm (local) / 12pm (GMT)
Persib Bandung (IDN) v Shan United FC (MYA), Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium, Bandung, 7pm (local) / 12pm (GMT)
