Commentator Ngo Quang Tung and his unfulfilled dreams with football

Commentator Ngo Quang Tung is a famous commentator of Vietnamese football. He is from Hung Nguyen district, the son of former famous player Ngo Xuan Quynh, a member of the pioneering generation of The Cong Club.

Since he was 3 years old, commentator Quang Tung has been breathing the same air as football idols across the country as his father is a legend and Head of the team.

It wasn't until he was 10 or 11 that his passion for football really took off. However, his dream of becoming a professional player never came true. That dream was still nurtured and nurtured until he was in high school...

PV:Hello commentator Quang Tung, nice to meet you today. First of all, can you share a little about the path that led you to become a football commentator. Was that your dream since you were a child or was your dream to follow the path of professional football like your father?

Commentator Quang Tung:I was born into a family with a football tradition, but I was not lucky enough to have the conditions to become a player. In terms of physical strength, talent and finally the opportunity to show myself in professional football. That assessment came from my father, a very professional person, attached to this sport of Vietnam for too long.

About 30 years ago, I was also quite forced and resentful about that. However, up to now, I understand that it is also a choice of my life. And what I have had in my career up to now, I can say that I am satisfied. I love sports, I love football and I still go with it even though I am not a direct player, attached to football like the main characters.

As time went on, I realized that it was a “wise” direction of my father. Every game is the same, but with football, it requires separate elements, to be able to create personal marks on a collective playground.

Commentator Quang Tung once had an unfulfilled dream with football. Photo: Trung Kien

PV:When you started your career as a football commentator, what were the advantages and disadvantages that you faced? These must have been some of the most memorable experiences of your life.

Commentator Quang Tung:My path to becoming a football commentator can be said to be very lucky. Because I studied at a university of physical education and sports. After graduating, I participated in grassroots sports work before coming to Vietnam Television. When the new channel VTV3 appeared in 1996, it opened up many opportunities for young people like our generation. Luckily for me, I was one of those people.

That was a period of media explosion when Vietnamese football flourished in real life as well as on television, not only domestic football but also international football came to Vietnam as much as English football, European UEFA Champions League and other national championships.

That creates conditions for our young generation to have the opportunity to develop our careers. In 10 years working at VTV, it helps us gain a lot of experience, accumulation and maturity. What we have gained at VTV has followed me until now, that is life experience and work experience.

Commentator Quang Tung is known for his soulful voice and profound knowledge. Photo: FBNV

PV:We all know that football commentator is a very special profession, but as an insider, what do you feel and worry about this job?

Commentator Quang Tung:As for the football commentator profession, I think this profession has its own characteristics. Someone once asked me what my concept of the commentator profession was. I answered that the commentator is the first person to speak his own mind. As for commentators, they cannot read what others say, especially with live matches where they have to say what they think, have to express their thoughts and opinions.

After 20 years of working with many seniors and predecessors, no one has received any recognition from any agency or any award, such as the award for excellent commentators. Saying this is not a complaint, but clearly, there are no awards for those who do sports-related programs at television festivals.

That's just a joke! Personally, I and my colleagues who have worked in this profession feel happy and lucky to have a job that is both a passion and a connection with people. My principle when working is to sit and talk to a screen but in reality, I am talking to millions of people.

I always keep the view that each commentary session is me sharing my understanding, my ideas and my opinions to help viewers feel better. My understanding may be limited, but it helps everyone to share and enjoy the matches more interestingly.

Commentator Quang Huy and commentator Quang Tung are the most beloved couple in the commentator profession. Photo: NVCC

PV:It seems that as football develops, the demands of viewers and fans when watching football also become more strict with commentators. As a veteran commentator, how do you adapt to new trends? Do you personally encounter many difficulties because we are living in an era of technology and information explosion?

Commentator Quang Tung:As always, every issue in our lives has developments. Football is no exception to that trend, there are changes, developments and movements, and we have to renew ourselves to adapt to it.

In the trend of many years, people are very interested in statistics, helping people to have more accurate judgments. For coaches, statistics help them make accurate judgments and decisions about people and playing ideas to create the most modern football possible.

The work of journalists and television people has also changed. But I think that, among all those changes, we still have to grasp and understand the core issue of this sport. Football is actually not a very complicated sport, but the simplicity is the pinnacle of this game.

Commentator Quang Tung is an experienced person with Vietnamese football. Photo: FBNV

PV:Football is indeed about numbers, but in Vietnam it is not like abroad. They have many companies specializing in statistics with high accuracy. In Vietnam, this is very new. Does that make it difficult for you and other commentators to work?

Commentator Quang Tung:For us, that is always an obstacle. Over the years of working, we have many ways to approach and handle matches. Remember that Vietnamese football will still have many difficulties, not because we have little information but because of the quality of football. Especially in lower-level matches, youth tournaments, sometimes there is not enough professional quality and media image.

However, I think things will get better and such challenges are always very meaningful to those in the profession. Overcoming these things will help reporters, editors, and sports commentators have the courage and experience to be able to "survive" matches that can be said to be boring, such as matches in the middle of summer, the stands are empty, and the players on the field play haphazardly. However, such matches will help football commentators become more mature.

Commentator Quang Tung talks with reporter of Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Trung Kien

PV:It is known that his hometown is in Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province. However, he has a very common accent and when realizing that he has Nghe An blood in him, it is quite surprising. For him, perhaps his hometown is something very special...

Commentator Quang Tung:Actually, I speak fluent Northern dialect because I was born in Hanoi. My bloodline is from Nghe An but my parents worked in Hanoi since the 50s so it is normal that I do not have any Nghe An accent.

However, somewhere inside me there are things that are very Nghe An, the love for my homeland or the things that my parents lived and taught me. I always keep that feeling in me that is very difficult to put into words. Especially when I see Nghe An players, from SLNA to the national team, they do something, I always have a sense of pride.

PV: Thank you for sharing and wish you good health!

SLNA's problems at V.League 2019 through the perspective of commentator Quang Tung

(Baonghean.vn) - Song Lam Nghe An just lost 1-2 to Ho Chi Minh City Club in round 11 of V.League 2019. However, according to commentator Quang Tung, SLNA's achievements are reflecting the team's true strength.