Off the pitch: "Dad, I want to join the Song Lam academy."

The twins from Nghia Dan: "Dad, we want to join the Song Lam training center."

These days, Mr. Le Thanh Truyen is temporarily putting aside his work far from home to return to his hometown and accompany his twin sons, Anh Loc and Duc Tai, to participate in the Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament.

From their small house in the remote Nghia Lac commune, formerly Nghia Dan district (now Nghia Lam commune), to the football talent class is a distance of over 20km. Mr. Truyen said: “My two sons have loved playing football since they were little. Seeing their enthusiasm, my wife and I tried our best to enroll them in local talent classes. I work far away, so my wife has to constantly drive them back and forth. They go to training at the center about 3-4 times a week, and at home they play on the dirt field in the neighborhood with their friends.”

Each training session lasted three hours. Their mother would drive them there, then patiently wait for them to finish before taking them home. These regular trips were cherished by the children, ensuring they never missed a single training session, determined to nurture their dream of becoming football players.

Anh Truyền was moved when talking about the innocent dreams of his two sons: "Every morning when they wake up, they ask: 'Dad, we want to join the Song Lam academy.'" Despite having tried several times in the recruitment process but not being accepted due to not meeting the physical requirements, Anh Lộc and Đức Tài remain undeterred. For the two boys, this is a reason to train harder, nurturing their dream of one day training in a professional football academy.

Following the journey of twin brothers Anh Loc and Duc Tai from their early days to this tournament, Mr. Vu Nhu Quynh, representative of the Nghia Dan Youth and Children's Team, shared: "The two brothers have participated in almost all friendly tournaments with other talent classes in the surrounding area. Although they are currently at a disadvantage in terms of physical condition, their football skills are very good. Both of them have skillful feet and are currently among the most outstanding players from Nghia Dan participating in this tournament."

However, Mr. Quynh also worried about the long journey and the high costs involved, especially since Anh Loc and Duc Tai both come from a remote and disadvantaged area in Nghe An province. Mr. Quynh expressed his hope that talented and determined young players like Anh Loc and Duc Tai would have the opportunity to be discovered and trained in a suitable environment to continue pursuing a professional football career.

"Bonus rewards" after each win.

The emotional comeback victory of the Hoang Mai Ward Youth team against Hung Nguyen on the morning of June 9th caused an explosion of excitement in the stadium. Despite falling behind, the Hoang Mai players showed unwavering determination and a never-give-up spirit, scoring three consecutive goals to stage a spectacular 3-1 comeback. After those tense, breathtaking moments, the Hoang Mai coach's voice was hoarse from constantly giving instructions and cheering on his players. But more than the joy of victory, the radiant look in his eyes and the smile of undisguised pride were the greatest rewards, witnessing his players fight with all their determination and passion.

Present in the stands from very early on to watch and cheer on the Hoang Mai Youth football team, Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen could not hide her joy at witnessing the efforts of the young players. She said that parents always try to encourage their children with "on-the-spot" rewards after each match. Whenever the children play well, each child receives a reward; whatever support is available, both material and spiritual.

And the most obvious "reward" was that after each goal, the Hoàng Mai fan zone erupted in applause, with adults and children alike hugging each other and cheering until their voices were hoarse. Years later, the players on the field today may not remember the exact play or the score, but they will certainly remember the feeling of happiness from playing amidst the love, support, and pride of their hometown.

After the emotional match, the reporter promptly rewarded the winning Hoang Mai team with a check-in photo, capturing the innocence and energy of the players, coaching staff, and supporters. Speaking about the journey ahead, Coach Ho Huu Tien added: “The team’s goal is unity and striving in every match. The philosophy is not to put too much emphasis on results to avoid negatively impacting the players’ morale.”