"Strange bird"

(Baonghean) - In SLNA's matches this season, The Cuong only appeared occasionally, but whenever he was on the field, this small midfielder always made an impression. Like a "strange bird", The Cuong brought many new features, creating a rather varied playing style for the Vinh Stadium team in the 2015 V.League season.

This midfielder with a modest height (1m66) was born in Vinh, so The Cuong had more convenient access to football. In addition to the strong development of school football, the football fields in the city are also much more convenient. Although his physique is limited, in return, The Cuong's feet are very skillful. Cuong is a rare player in SLNA today who can shoot well with both feet. After joining the Song Lam "furnace" and achieving many successes in youth tournaments, The Cuong was promoted to the first team in 2010. However, at that time, for many reasons, after only one season, Cuong asked the SLNA leadership for permission to return to the youth team.

Midfielder The Cuong (number 14) in SLNA shirt.

The case of The Cuong is rare and perhaps unprecedented in the Nghe An football team. Because normally, being promoted to the first team is a great honor and everyone desires it, so the fact that this midfielder asked to return to the youth team is really shocking. In addition to his good football skills, The Cuong is also a quiet person with a very special style. The main reason for asking to go down to the youth team is simply because he feels he is not strong enough, needs to "test the fire" more. His straightforwardness and respect for honor are sometimes personality highlights, helping The Cuong receive a lot of affection from everyone.

The Cuong is a person who values ​​his career so he trains very hard. Knowing that his weakness is his body and physical strength, Cuong determined that he must work twice as hard as others. Therefore, on days when the team is off, The Cuong still carries his shoes to the field to practice with the U-teams.

In 2012, The Cuong reappeared in the U.21 SLNA jersey to participate in the national U.21 finals in Ninh Thuan. Although he did not win any individual titles, this was a tournament where both the leaders and his teammates had to admit that The Cuong was the player who played with "character" and contributed the most, helping U.21 SLNA win the championship, after 10 years of waiting. In the final match against the host Ninh Thuan, The Cuong was the one who passed the ball to Dinh Bao to score and then, this midfielder himself headed the match-winning goal.

After that tournament, a series of players were promoted to the first team while The Cuong chose a different direction, which was to leave his hometown, find a feeling and have more opportunities to play and compete. The Cuong's destination was XSKT.Can Tho and the days here became very valuable, when this midfielder had many necessary experiences to mature.

Preparing for the 2014 season, Coach Huu Thang called The Cuong back, officially returning to the SLNA first team. Appreciating Cuong's personality and talent, Coach Huu Thang let him play many times and almost every time he appeared, this right midfielder left his mark. In the 3rd round of V.League 2014 at Vinh Stadium, The Cuong had an extremely classy move without the ball and scored a goal that made the whole Vinh Stadium explode.

Playing well but choosing a closed lifestyle, very few people understand The Cuong well. This season, every now and then, coach Quang Truong lets The Cuong play and Cuong does not disappoint. In the match in Cao Lanh, The Cuong scored the winning goal for the Nghe An team. Recently, when playing at Vinh Stadium and SLNA was stuck against Than Quang Ninh, as soon as he entered the field, The Cuong had a classy header, helping SLNA take the lead.

“In Vietnam, not many people can head the ball like that, not to mention The Cuong is limited in height. That is a typical situation and only a talented person can handle it,” a sports expert commented on The Cuong’s goal.

Rarely playing in the first team, but when he does, The Cuong often brings something quite special. Therefore, for Nghe An fans, this midfielder is like a “strange bird” bringing new features to SLNA’s playing style. Only 25 years old and just needs to do well in his role of making a difference, The Cuong will gradually have a foothold and a bright future.

VINH LIEM