Coach Kim Sang Sik returns to South Korea for father's funeral: A quiet moment ahead of ASEAN Cup 2026

I remember once standing by the training ground fence watching an old man sit silently all afternoon, talking to no one, just looking at the pitch. They said he was a coach's father. Today, that story came back to me when I read the news that Vietnam national team head coach Kim Sang Sik had to return home to mourn his father. The news came from the VFF – an official source, not a rumor. But for me, what matters is not just his departure, but the way an entire system operates around a personal moment. The VFF confirmed that Kim Sang Sik's father, Kim Yong-sik, passed away on February 14, 2026 (South Korea time), at the age of 84. Kim Sang Sik had also spent a long period returning to his hometown to care for his father before receiving the sad news. VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan directly sent condolences and encouraged the coach to return to South Korea as soon as possible to handle his father's funeral. It is expected that the Korean coach will stay in his hometown for about a week to handle the funeral before returning to Vietnam to continue his work. A VOID IN THE HEART OF THE TEAM Looking back at the period since May 2026, when Kim Sang Sik was appointed, he has devoted all his energy to his work. Both the U23 and the senior national team of Vietnam have achieved notable results in regional and continental competitions. He is Korean, but he spends most of his time in Vietnam. The way he is committed to his work reminds me of my own story when I was a reporter: there were nights I did not sleep because I was waiting for transfer news, just as there are coaches who do not know how to take their eyes off the training ground. But now, he must leave his work for a reason bigger than himself. His absence comes right during the final preparation phase for the ASEAN Cup 2026. This tournament can be considered the most important event of the year in Southeast Asian football. Vietnam is drawn in Group A along with Thailand, the Philippines and Pakistan. The match schedule runs from September 24 to October 5. This is not an ideal time to lose the man in charge for an important week. THE DOOR OPENS FROM THE GROUNDSKEEPER, NOT FROM THE MEETING ROOM The VFF has reacted quickly and appropriately. President Tran Quoc Tuan did not just send condolences; he actively encouraged Kim to go home. In its official statement, the VFF expressed hope that Coach Kim Sang Sik and his family would soon overcome this pain. This handling demonstrates the maturity in governance of a national football federation. No one is forcing anyone to forget personal matters to focus on common affairs. They understand that a coach with an unstable mind cannot effectively convey tactics. I once made a mistake reporting on Coutinho, losing all credibility over an unverified source. Since then, I learned that in football, there are things that cannot be judged from the desk. Insiders whisper, outsiders hear it as table-slamming. But here, everything is clear. No one needs to whisper anything. The loss of a father is a great pain, and the VFF's decision to facilitate his return to handle the funeral is a correct one both humanly and strategically. THE DECISIVE WEEK However, as someone who has followed football for 37 years, I cannot help but ask: how will this week of absence affect the team? In short training camps before major tournaments, every session is important. Tactical plans are usually practiced in stages, from fitness to tactics to set pieces. If this week coincides with important tactical sessions, the preparation process will be disrupted. I have no inside information on the specific training schedule, but from my experience following matches, coaches usually use the final week before a tournament to fine-tune the lineup and test the starting eleven. Kim's coaching staff may still maintain training sessions, but they cannot fully replace the role of the head coach. This poses a challenge for the assistants: how to keep the team's rhythm without disrupting what the head coach has already established. I believe that for teams with a good foundation, maintaining fitness and basic drills for a week is feasible. The bigger issue lies in the mental aspect. NUMBERS SHOW THE PATH ALREADY TRAVELED, INSTINCT POINTS TO THE ROAD AHEAD Group A has Thailand as the direct rival. The Philippines and Pakistan are considered weaker. In reality, this situation is quite favorable for Vietnam to get past the group stage. But football is not just about quality on paper. Matches against weaker opponents are often the easiest to slip up in. When the head coach is absent, players may lose the feeling of being led. That is something hard to quantify. Numbers show the path already traveled, while instinct points to the road ahead. And I believe the players are professional enough to understand their coach's circumstances. How will they react? From my experience following matches, teams that face loss usually have two types of reactions: either they slump due to lack of support, or they surge with determination to fight for their teacher. With a generation of players who have bonded with Kim Sang Sik through many tournaments, I lean toward the second possibility. They have witnessed his dedication, from training sessions to matches. Seeing their coach overcome personal pain to return and contribute is itself a powerful message. MISTAKES ARE MORE VALUABLE THAN RIGHT NEWS I used to be a reporter who always wanted to get news faster than others. The Coutinho mistake taught me that chasing sensational news without verification will cost you more credibility than a quick article. But there is one thing I have never been wrong about: respecting the people behind every transfer and every match. Football is not just tactics or statistics. It is the story of people. And this time, the story is about a coach carrying the pain of losing his father, having to temporarily leave the work he is passionate about. How this story ends depends on many factors: his emotions upon return, the preparation of the assistants, and the spirit of the players. I will closely monitor official announcements from the VFF in the coming week. I will look at training reports after his return to assess the team's state. Above all, I will wait to see how Kim stands on the touchline in the first match against the Philippines – whether his eyes return to the sharpness of a commander, or still hold something distant. At 53, the legs may slow, but the eyes become sharper. And I believe Coach Kim Sang Sik, at an age where he is experienced enough, will know how to turn pain into strength. The transfer market is like a derby: without goals, no one remembers. Likewise in football, only results on the pitch make people remember the moving story behind. Let us wait and see how he returns. As a coach who is both hurt and strong, or as a son carrying unhealed grief? The answer will lie in the upcoming matches.