On the sidelines of Nghe An Newspaper Cup: 'Thought it was red, but it turned out to be black!'

In the quarter-final match at the Children's Stadium today, June 11, there was an interesting coincidence that the teams wearing red uniforms all lost to their opponents. That was Yen Thanh Children's (red shirt) lost to Hoang Mai Town Children's with a score of 3-1; then Tan Ky Children's (red shirt) lost to Quy Hop Children's in the penalty shootout.

Saying goodbye to the season with regret, both teams in red shirts burst into tears. Mixed in with the crying were sobs: “Wearing red shirts, thought red turned out to be black.”

Dye the stands red

In the quarter-final match 4 this afternoon, Dien Chau Children's Football Club will face Tuong Duong Children's Football Club. To cheer for their home team, the fans of the coastal city football team did not mind the long distance, the hot weather, traveling 50km to Vinh.

The most impressive thing was not only the strong cheering squad but also their professionalism when cheering, fully equipped with banners, slogans, flags, drums, trumpets, headbands. The cheering members were also diverse, from 80-90 year old grandparents to 6-month old babies being held in their arms.

It has become a tradition that every year, when the home team reaches the semi-finals, the fans organize to go to Vinh to cheer, regardless of whether their children or grandchildren are in the team or not. Because for them, being able to join in the joy of children's football is something precious. And whether the home team wins or loses is not as important as the joy that the children experience...

Father and son

In the quarter-final match this morning between Quy Hop Children's and Tan Ky Children's, there was a fan who caught the attention of everyone present on the field. It was a man around 40 years old, wearing a red shirt with the words "Dad Bao Long" printed on it, running back and forth following each ball in the stands; holding a "lai-chim" phone in his hand, shouting continuously... Especially, in the nerve-wracking "shootout" series, he also sobbed with each penalty.

Finally, when Nhi Dong Quy Hop won on penalties, earning a ticket to the semi-finals, he rushed onto the field, lifted each player up, and kissed them on the cheek and neck.

It turns out that he has a son who is a goalkeeper, wearing the number 15 jersey, in the reserve team of Quy Hop Children's Football Club. Putting aside his family affairs, he went to Vinh to follow his son since the beginning of the season, loving his son and taking care of the children in the Quy Hop team with every meal and sleep. In addition to his love for football, there is also the fatherly love not only for his son but also for all the young players...

“Why is it so hot? It's even hotter in the yard.”

In the stands this afternoon, despite the geographical distance, Phu Tuong fans still went to Vinh city to cheer for their team. Although there was no “drums and flags flying”, the fans still cheered enthusiastically, followed the match closely, and shared their joys and sorrows with each ball that their children played on the field.

She was so engrossed in cheering on every move on the field that she forgot to fan her daughter even though she was drenched in sweat. When her daughter tugged on her shirt: “Mom, mom, I’m hot,” the mother snapped, “Why are you so hot? It’s even hotter in the field.”