'Turning point' of goalkeeper Tran Van Tien

(Baonghean.vn) - Among the young goalkeepers in SLNA, Tran Van Tien is highly appreciated for his physique and quick reflexes. Many Nghe An fans always consider the goalkeeper who just turned 22 to be capable of inheriting the position of Tran Nguyen Manh.

Coming to Nghe An youth football training center, unlike most other players, Tran Van Tien was just an “outsider” in football. Originally a talented athlete in Athletics, but the turning point in his career came to Tran Van Tien.

In 2011, by chance, goalkeeper coach Le Manh Hung discovered special qualities in Tran Van Tien, who could become a good goalkeeper. Immediately, the 17-year-old boy from the Athletics team was given special permission to train at U17 SLNA not long after. Thinking back to that event, Tran Van Tien is still moved by his "fate" with the round ball.

In a new field, football, the player from Do Luong realized that he had more shortcomings than his teammates and seniors at SLNA. To overcome his weaknesses, the only way Tran Van Tien could do was to practice seriously and diligently.

He was successively selected to participate in the finals with the U19 National Team, the U21 Thanh Nien Newspaper qualifying round... but Tran Van Tien's regular position was still just the bench. Not discouraged by that, every time the tournament passed, people saw the goalkeeper born in 1994 working hard on the training ground.

Those tireless efforts have helped Tran Van Tien catch up with other goalkeepers in SLNA, even though he started playing other positions much later. The disadvantage for goalkeeper Tran Van Tien is that he did not leave much of an impression in the youth tournament (did not participate, or had to sit on the bench), so it was difficult to catch the eye of the SLNA first team's coaching staff.

Goalkeeper Tran Van Tien is practicing. Photo from FBCN.

Due to the remarkable progress of Tran Van Tien, SLNA's Board of Directors has just allowed this player to practice with the first team. The relentless efforts over the past time have also received results, the burning dream of wearing the shirt that idols like Nguyen The Anh, Duong Hong Son... used to wear has become a reality.

Not in SLNA’s plan for the 2016 season, Tran Van Tien packed his bags and joined the Second Division team CAND on a loan contract. Although somewhat disappointed, Tran Van Tien still tried to cheerfully tell his parents that “this is an opportunity for me to improve my competitive spirit”.

Indeed, standing in the CAND goal in the Second Division tournament helped this goalkeeper overcome his psychological weakness, which has always made Tien struggle the most in the process of correcting his shortcomings.

In the CAND squad in the 2016 Second Division, Tran Van Tien was the most stable and excellent player of the team. This was proven by the fact that Tran Van Tien was the starting goalkeeper in all of CAND's matches until the team was officially relegated, then coach Phan Ba ​​Hung let him sit on the bench to rest. CAND's achievement of finishing 2nd in the group (after Binh Dinh) was largely due to the excellent performance of goalkeeper Tran Van Tien.

Returning to SLNA after a loan period at CAND, Tran Van Tien received some unpleasant news, when the U21 Thanh Nien Newspaper 2016 tournament did not allow teams to register 3 players over 21 years old in the competition list. Tran Van Tien could not practice with the U21 SLNA team, instead, to maintain his form, he had to participate in amateur football matches. During the past months (when SLNA had not yet gathered to prepare for the new season), the goalkeeper from Do Luong appeared on all the amateur fields and amateur tournaments in Vinh city. In a sweat, Tien shared: "I have to practice hard to have the opportunity to be registered by SLNA's coaching board to compete in the 2017 season."

Competed in the FLC (Thanh Hoa) friendly tournament in December 2016. Photo from FBCN.

At the FLC training tournament held at Thanh Hoa Stadium in early December, Tran Van Tien was sent to the field by SLNA's coaching staff in all 3 matches in the starting lineup. His quick reflexes, reasonable entry and exit, along with his ideal physique that is favorable in aerial battles... are the highlights in the matches Tran Van Tien was on the field.

Although the Nghe An team only ranked fourth overall (4/4 teams), the 22-year-old goalkeeper's performance was remarkable, bringing satisfaction to the coaching staff and teammates.

In the situation where goalkeeper number 2 Le Van Hung is injured and may have to rest for a long time, Tran Van Tien will likely be selected for SLNA's roster to participate in the 2017 season.

Of course, to stand in the goal of SLNA in official matches is not an easy thing for the goalkeeper from Do Luong. Compared to his seniors like Tran Nguyen Manh, Le Quang Dai... Tran Van Tien is still much less in terms of competitive mentality and battle spirit. Just breathing the atmosphere of the V. League arena, the National Cup from the bench is also a great experience to help this player accumulate more experience and progress further in terms of expertise.

Tram Uyen