The school has 1,200 students across 27 classes, many of whom take part in football training and matches after lessons on campus fields. School leaders say football has become an effective way to improve physical health, relieve academic stress, and foster discipline, teamwork and a healthy lifestyle among students.
Principal Đỗ Bách Khoa said the school’s management board recognises physical education as essential to both academic performance and holistic student development. As a result, Chi Lăng High School has invested heavily in sports infrastructure and human resources, including two modern artificial turf pitches and a dedicated team of qualified physical education teachers.
To professionalise its football activities, the school established a football club in 2020 with 30 members selected for both talent and commitment. The club maintains regular training sessions and takes part in grassroots tournaments, giving students opportunities to compete, gain experience and improve their skills.
Phan Bảo Phúc, a former Sanvinest Khánh Hòa Futsal Club player and head of the school’s football club, said talented students are identified from the Grade 10 intake through assessments of technique, fitness, competitive mindset and sportsmanship. “This helps us build a sustainable pipeline for the school team,” he said.
Beyond the formal curriculum, the school frequently organises inter-class tournaments and sports activities to broaden participation and identify promising players. Training programmes are designed to ensure students can balance academic demands with sport, while competition schedules are supported by age-appropriate training plans and proper nutrition.
The results have been reflected in competition. At the Pleiku City five-a-side high school boys’ football tournament, Chi Lăng High School finished third in the 2021–2022 school year, runners-up in 2022–2023, and champions in 2023–2024.
The school is now intensifying preparations for the qualifying round of the inaugural National Seven-a-Side High School Football Tournament (HS7 2026). As part of this effort, the team has increased training intensity and played friendly matches against youth teams from LPBank Hoàng Anh Gia Lai Football Academy.
“Our players are physically strong, technically sound and highly motivated,” Phúc said. “That gives us confidence as we target qualification and strong results at the national finals.”
Team captain Nguyễn Hữu Phú, a Grade 12 student, said club members train actively outside class hours. “The upcoming tournament will feature many strong teams. It’s a valuable chance to learn and compete, and we are determined to give our best,” he said.