FourFourTwo's Southeast Asian 20 Under-20

Ha Duc Chinh – Vietnam

Previously known by the less than kind nickname ‘wooden leg’, Ha Duc Chinh has well and truly cast aside that moniker in the past 18 months.

In that time he’s emerged as the most important option in front of goal for a Vietnamese team that’s preparing to participate in this year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

A modern forward who is powerful and direct, he possesses good pace and a strong technique that makes him a threat both in the air and on the ground and he already looks like being the attacking centrepiece at his new V.League side Danang.

Comfortable either as a central striker or in the role he occupies for the national team, part of a two-man frontline, he’s fast earning a reputation for being not just a goalscorer, but also a scorer of important goals.

Ho Minh Di – Vietnam

Ho Minh Di was never supposed to be a footballer; when he enrolled in trials as an 11-year-old at youth club PVF he stood just 1.31 metres tall and weighed 27 kilograms.

Having beaten off 200 other hopefuls, however, he made the squad and from there it’s been a dramatic rise for the still pint-sized (1.59m) winger.

Already established as a regular in the PVF senior team, he was snapped up this year by V.League champions Hanoi T&T, with his previous coach praising his “incredible talent on the ball and abilities to pass and shoot”.

Firmly ensconced on the left wing of the World Cup-bound under-20 national team, Minh Di, who loves to take on opponents one-on-one, is regarded as one of the most electric young attacking talents in Southeast Asia.

Other foreign football players named in the list include Supachok Sarachat of Thailand, Marco Casambre of the Philippines, Supachai Chaided of Thailand, Daniel De Silva of Australia, Safawi Rasid of Malaysia, Worachit Kanitsribumpen of Thailand, Pandi Lestaluhu of Indonesia, and Alex Gersbach of Australia.