On the sidelines: 'If you're so good, then go ahead and run!'

A parent who is also a supporter of TN Cua Lo uses a tactic to motivate the young players. Photo: TP

After falling behind 2-1 in the first half, the Cua Lo Youth team players were somewhat demoralized during the halftime break. Parents came down from the stands to the field to encourage and care for their children.

But there were also parents who were so impatient seeing their team temporarily losing that they "uttered harsh words" to provoke the players, such as: "Good heavens, the field is so good, yet you're running like idiots," "Why are you so panicked playing football? Look at your opponents before passing the ball," "Three of you are ganging up on one guy and letting him rush in like a rocket?... Feeling offended, a young player from Cua Lo Youth team retorted: "If you're so good, come and try running yourself!"

If this car goes downhill, it will crash.

The young players of the Que Phong team were delighted to receive bicycles as gifts. Photo: TP

At the opening ceremony, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee presented bicycles to underprivileged players to encourage them to continue attending school, strive for academic excellence, and pursue their passion for football.

After receiving the bikes, the children were very excited. Many carefully asked the teacher to let them take the bikes home to leave them at a friend's house, while many others quickly rode them around the stadium to test them out. "The bikes are really smooth. If we ride these back to Que Phong and go downhill, it'll be amazing!" said a young player from the Que Phong team excitedly.

The "doping" dose from those bags of chips.

The dose of adrenaline came from the bags of chips my mom brought to the stadium to cheer me on. Photo: TP

"On the youth field, in the opening match between Do Luong and Cua Lo town, despite the summer-autumn planting season, a large number of fans from Luong traveled nearly 80 kilometers to Vinh city to cheer on the young players. While the players gave their all on the field, the parents in the stands also enthusiastically followed the game.

Besides the morale-boosting gifts, parents also brought along bags of fabric, plums, chips, milk, and other snacks for their children to enjoy. "Come on! Shoot it in! One bag of premium chips for each player!" Along with the cheers and shouts of encouragement, bags of chips were held high. These chips acted as a kind of "doping" boost, helping the Do Luong Youth team play explosively and take the lead in the first half.