On the sidelines: 'Increase your toughness'

The goalkeeper of Dien Chau Children's Football Club is being energized and ready for the second half. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In the opening match this afternoon, at Nhi Dong Stadium, the Dien Chau young players met Hung Nguyen. In the first minutes of the first half, both teams had a very intense competition, "equally matched" with overwhelming attacks from both sides towards the goal. Therefore, the goalkeepers of both sides had to work hard to defend. During the break between the two halves, Nhi Dong Dien Chau goalkeeper, number 12 Pham Minh Tri, seemed down, sad and about to cry. The coach had to "speak up": "Hey, be strong! You caught the ball well but you have to try harder! Increase your toughness. Crying means you'll be suspended from the match!"

After that “tender” and with the enthusiastic encouragement of the caretaker, the boy quickly regained his spirit. And certainly, in the second match, his toughness had been raised, Pham Minh Tri caught the ball more aggressively, predicted the ball more accurately, and caught it more firmly.

Three teachers, seven opinions

Coaches of Hung Nguyen Children's Academy instruct tactics for young players. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Despite playing with all their might, continuously attacking and dominating the opponent's goal, Nhi dong Hung Nguyen had to let Nhi dong Dien Chau take the lead 1-0. During the break, the coaching staff of Nhi dong Hung Nguyen had to regroup and lift the team's spirits.

Tactics were given, “moves” were communicated. Some teachers even brought out books to show the diagrams, some told their students to slow down and stay calm, some said that when they have the ball, they should run, increase the speed, opportunities do not come twice… The young players listened attentively, nodding their heads repeatedly. But in the end, when the teacher asked “Do you understand what I mean?”, one player said softly, “Three teachers, seven ideas, I don’t know who to listen to.”

Cameras run on... rice

Rice-powered cameras of Dien Chau Children. Photo: Thanh Phuc

If below, the children were playing with all their might, giving their all with beautiful plays, with situations that seemed to be breath-taking, then up in the stands, the fans were equally enthusiastic and vibrant. The shouts of “go in, go in”, the sound of Vuvuzela horns, the sound of water bottles hitting each other created a bustling, eager, and urgent sound.

Especially, on the side of Dien Chau children's fans, with smartphones, the mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles... actively chat, actively share on platforms such as Facebook, Zalo, and groups. Along with that is the unique commentary, "going into the ground" with the typical Dien Chau accent: "On the field right now are the Dien Chau players, that shirt, that pants"...