Khatoco Khanh Hoa enters the 2026 - 2027 National First Division season with a fresh, determined look. The reunion with Head Coach Vo Dinh Tan and 20 new faces promises to rekindle the gritty, passionate, and cohesive identity of coastal city football.
The Return of Familiar Faces
Recent training sessions preparing for the new season for Khatoco Khanh Hoa have seemed more urgent and vibrant as the opening day of the National First Division approaches. Coach Vo Dinh Tan's whistle sounds repeatedly, cutting through plays. Striding onto the pitch, he personally refines every movement and positioning angle for his young players. Three years after Coach Vo Dinh Tan stepped away from football, time seems never to have severed the bond between this strategist and Khanh Hoa football. Still with a gentle yet slightly austere face, still with a soft-spoken yet authoritative voice, he earns his players' admiration not only for his tactical acumen but also for his dedication to his hometown football, characterized by a fiery, resilient, and united style of play.
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| Khatoco Khanh Hoa players during a training session. |
The 2026 - 2027 season marks a massive squad reshuffle for the coastal city team, featuring 20 new recruits out of 27 registered players. Yet, any sense of unfamiliarity quickly dissipates upon reviewing the roster. It is a large-scale homecoming of familiar faces who once played and developed within the coastal team's ranks.
The return of Coach Vo Dinh Tan to the dugout is regarded as a vital anchor to maintain professional direction and forge team spirit. Alongside him, many former proteges who weathered highs and lows with coastal football have also returned after stints with other clubs. From goalkeeper Vo Ngoc Cuong and center-back Doan Cong Thanh to midfielder Pham Trum Tinh and seasoned striker Nguyen Huu Khoi, this veteran core's profound understanding of the team's identity serves as the ideal cement for newly promoted young talents such as Huynh Thanh Tuan, Vo Ngoc Hai, and Nguyen Hoang Thien. These are all products of Khanh Hoa's youth academy playing in the Third Division who have been promoted to the first team by Coach Vo Dinh Tan.
Alongside a domestic core rich in local identity, this season marks a bold experimental step for Khatoco Khanh Hoa with the signing of overseas Vietnamese player Truong Minh Quoc (formerly of Skive IK, Denmark) and Ukrainian forward Oleksandr Kurakin (standing at an impressive 1.92 m). The combination of veterans' vast experience, foreign steel, and youth enthusiasm creates a Khatoco Khanh Hoa squad promising enough to tackle the challenges of this season.
The Flame of Enthusiasm
Discussing tactical direction for the new season, Coach Vo Dinh Tan frankly shared: "We are determined that every match must be played with full dedication, and results will follow naturally from that effort. In every match, the entire team must give their all."
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| Khatoco Khanh Hoa team at the season send-off ceremony. |
The defensive system commanded by "bedrocks" such as Doan Cong Thanh and Trinh Van Quang will serve as the launching pad for swift transitions. Goalkeeper Vo Ngoc Cuong himself affirmed the squad's resolve: "The players remind one another to take it game by game. We want to play well, deliver beautiful plays and great goals to express our gratitude to the fans."
Speaking with us, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Tuan, Director of Khanh Hoa Football Club (FC), confirmed that the team will continue to foster unity, commit to hard training and competition, and strive for the best results in the new season. Along with elevating competitive quality, Khatoco Khanh Hoa FC aims to draw larger crowds to the stadium, gradually turning each home match at 19-8 Stadium (Nha Trang Ward) into a football festival for local coastal residents.
A series of preseason friendlies has shown positive signs of chemistry across lines. The coaching staff has constantly tested squad options to identify the optimal framework. Khatoco Khanh Hoa's first test will come on September 13 in an away match against Xuan Thien Phu Tho in Round 1 of the National First Division. Following that, the team will return to 19-8 Stadium to host Van Hien University FC in the National Cup on September 19. A united squad fighting for their colors is ready to rekindle the flame of passion in the stands.
New kits: This season, Khatoco Khanh Hoa dons a new modern, dynamic kit design featuring two main colors: the blue jersey is accented with ocean waves and bird's nest patterns; the white jersey carries a subtle watermark pattern of the Agarwood Tower (Thap Tram Huong), inspired by blooming lotus blossoms and smoking agarwood.
3 ticket price tiers: In order to gradually make every home match a football festival for local residents, the club is offering admission tickets at three price tiers per ticket: 10,000 VND, 30,000 VND, and 50,000 VND.
A gesture of gratitude: Ahead of the new season, the coaching staff and Khatoco Khanh Hoa players paid tribute and offered incense at the 19-8 Stadium Monument Stele, expressing their gratitude, carrying forward traditions, and committing to give their all for the pride of Khanh Hoa football.
CONG DINH
