A 'launching pad' for a football talent.

Growing up in a sporting environment.

Nguyen Duc Khang is one of the four promising young football players of Nghi Loc district. Born and raised in a family with a sporting tradition, Khang has been passionate about football since he was a toddler, and that passion has been wholeheartedly supported by his family.

Ms. Duong Thi Lam, mother of footballer Nguyen Duc Khang, shared: “Khang's grandfather was one of the most devoted supporters of Song Lam Nghe An Football Club. He was always present in the stands at all of Song Lam Nghe An's matches and knew all the coaches. That love was passed on to Khang's father. Khang's grandfather and father loved football so much that they were willing to spend money to go to Hanoi to watch important football matches like the SEA Games and the Asian Cup... I myself also have a passion and talent for sports and enthusiastically participate in all extracurricular activities at school, work, and in the local area. Perhaps Khang's passion is the result of both genetic factors and environmental factors.”

Nguyen Duc Khang is highly regarded for his technique as well as his tactical thinking. Photo: Diep Thanh

Khang's parents supported his passion and provided him with every opportunity to participate in training programs that suited his abilities and family circumstances. Perhaps the best example of this investment was Khang's participation in the Nghe An Province U10 Talent Football Tournament in Quy Hop.

Throughout the five days of the tournament, Khang's grandfather, father, and younger brother covered all expenses to support him. This support was not only of great moral significance to Khang but also a huge encouragement for the Nghi Loc district team. Khang's father readily bought him good shoes and good balls for him to practice with his friends. Each item, however, added up to a considerable sum. Nevertheless, the family members always considered this a worthwhile investment.

“More than anyone else, we understand the benefits of sports. For children, a passion for sports not only brings health and physical fitness but also helps them develop motor skills, communication skills, experiences, and relationships with friends and teachers. Personally, I've noticed that since Khang joined the football clubs, he has become much more confident and assertive,” said Ms. Lam.

Furthermore, Ms. Lam also affirmed that sports indirectly have a positive impact on children's academic performance. She explained: "Many mothers believe that if their children are engrossed in playing football and sports, they will neglect their studies. But I don't see it that way. When Khang finds joy in sports, he becomes more cheerful, active, and enthusiastic in all other activities, including studying. At the same time, at Khang's age, when his awareness is not yet fully formed, he also needs the companionship and guidance of his parents. From first grade until now, despite dedicating a lot of time to sports, Khang has still maintained good academic performance at school."

Khang practices football with his mother and younger brothers in the yard at home. Photo: Diep Thanh

Not only was Khang fortunate to have his family support him in pursuing his passion, but he was also lucky to have parents who were his best friends, always accompanying and motivating him. Sharing about that good fortune, Khang confided: “My parents support me but never put pressure on me. They always say encouraging and trusting words to me, which makes me feel very happy and want to share everything with them, both good times and bad.”

"Passing on the torch" from previous generations.

Besides family support, Nguyen Duc Khang also received dedicated guidance from coach Le Trung Hieu, an employee of the Nghi Loc District Cultural and Sports Center. Mr. Hieu is also one of the grassroots coaches of the Song Lam Nghe An Football Club, directly training promising young players in Nghi Loc district.

The U10 team from Nghi Loc district participated in the tournament in Quy Hop in 2020. Photo: Archival material.

Commenting on his student, Mr. Hieu said: “Khang has a great love for this sport. Although he doesn't have an advantage in terms of physical strength and appearance, Khang excels in tactical thinking and tenacity, making him suitable for the defensive position. That's why every time we come to assess the quality of players, Song Lam Nghe An Club pays special attention to this boy. In addition, as a teacher, I highly appreciate Khang's calmness and maturity. Compared to his peers, Khang thinks things through and doesn't need much prompting from the coaches.”

As intermediaries and bridges between the club and the players' families, coaches like Mr. Hieu undertake this job primarily out of a passion for the sport and a desire to "ignite" that passion in the next generation. "It's not simply about instructing, guiding, and training; we need to motivate, inspire, and dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the children so they experience joy, and their parents – who accompany them to every training session – feel proud and honored. Although the salary isn't high, I'm willing to use my own money to support the training costs for players from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds. I even arrange transportation for those who live far away or go to the players' homes to persuade parents to let their children pursue their passion for football. It would be a great pity if the children's talent were wasted just because of family reasons," Mr. Hieu explained.

With that perspective, from 2015 to the present,Youth and children's football movement in Nghi Loc districtThere have been many promising developments and a series of high achievements. From the talent class, under the guidance of Mr. Hieu, many young players have become official players wearing the Song Lam Nghe An jersey and are part of the national team. These include Nguyen Ba Duc, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Nguyen Khanh Toan, Nguyen Cong Dat, Bui Thanh Duc…

Nghi Loc District Youth and Children's Football Team. Photo: Archival material.

In a conversation with reporters, coach Le Trung Hieu revealed an interesting piece of information: He himself had participated in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament 20 years ago. These days, as he diligently trains the district team in preparation for the 2022 season, the mixed emotions of young Hieu from back then come flooding back. He recounted: “Back then, there weren't as many playing fields as there are now, and we were all very excited about the tournament. We played at the C7 field, a dirt field; training and playing conditions were lacking, but the people's love for football was immense. Each young player would have at least 2-3 adults cheering them on, so the field was always packed, joyful, and full of happiness. For me, the season was a memorable one.”Nghe An Newspaper Cup"Each year will forever be a brilliant childhood memory that we will never forget, and we strive our best to ensure that future generations will also have such beautiful memories."