Off the pitch: Win or go to the supermarket, lose and go home!
In the world of young football players, the motivation to give their all on the field is sometimes not just about prizes or medals, but simply the promise of a trip to the supermarket after the match...
Where passion is "fueled" by three generationsfamily
On the morning of June 9th, after the final whistle blew in the Hung Nguyen Children's vs. Tan Ky Children's match, reporters' cameras captured a deeply moving moment: A small young player nestled in the strong arms of his coach, while his elderly grandmother, with gray hair, gently fanned him to cool him down.
This is Mai Duc Viet (10 years old), and today is also his special birthday. His father, Mai Van Toan, couldn't hide his pride as he shared about his son's journey. Duc Viet is a member of the community football team in Hung Nguyen commune, and this is his first year participating in a major provincial-level tournament. Throughout his journey into the wider world, Viet has never been without the support of his loved ones.
"From the early days of training at community classes to friendly matches away from home, Dad..."My mother and grandmother were always there to accompany me and take me to and from school.He was present at my grandson's matches. Viet is the eldest grandson of the family, his grandfather before him...He is also an extremely passionate football fan. This passion for the sport seems to have run its course."The family tradition has been passed down from grandfather to father, and now flourishes in the children's generation."- Toan confided.
Thanks to his impressive performance and talent, the coaches guided and advised his family to enroll Viet in the Satellite Class of Song Lam Nghe An Club - the cradle of Vietnamese football legends.
Mr. Toan shared his biggest goal in bringing his child to the tournament:"My family's expectations and passion are for me to go even further in my professional football career in the future. But for now, for me, this tournament is just an exciting playground.""It's delicious and appealing. I want my child to be able to exercise, freely express their passion, and most importantly, to gain experience, learn, and make friends to become more mature.".
This year, young footballer Mai Duc Viet's birthday gift wasn't just a cake or toys, but also a valuable experience in the Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television Cup Youth Football Tournament. The story of this young player from Hung Nguyen is the clearest proof that Nghe An football never runs out of talent, because it is always nurtured and fueled by the very homes of each player.
If you win, you get to go to the supermarket; if you lose, you go home!
On the afternoon of June 9th, in the stands of the tournament, an incredibly humorous and adorable scene from the special fans of the Van An commune football team made all the referees and spectators burst into laughter.
These are the young players from the Children's Division of Van An commune. They're not on the field to compete, but to transform into enthusiastic cheerleaders, directly supporting the older players from the Youth Division. However, behind those hoarse cheers lies a reason that will leave anyone speechless: "If the older players win today, the whole team will get a trip to the supermarket!"
Following the events on the field closely, the young players couldn't hide their nervousness. Amidst the tense atmosphere, their whispers and urging could be heard around the sidelines:
"If you win, you get to go to the supermarket; if you lose, you go home!"
"I've been staying in the hotel for the past few days. Let's try to win today so we can go out tonight!"
A seemingly ordinary joke, but for 9 or 10-year-old boys, it represents a surge of excitement and anticipation after a long period of training and competition away from home. The dream of "conquering" the supermarket, of temporarily leaving their familiar hotel rooms to go out and have fun, has become the driving force behind the spirit of the entire Van An team.
This year, the Van An commune football team boasts one of the largest and most enthusiastic fan bases in the tournament. The support, both material and spiritual, from the commune government and parents is a powerful source of energy, fueling the young players through each breathtaking match. It remains to be seen which side will win after the final whistle on June 9th, or whether the Van An commune team's bus will head to a shopping mall that evening. But one thing is certain: this innocence and loveliness are the wonderful ingredients that make up the unique character and appeal of this provincial amateur football tournament.
