Sports and charity stories from a young boy playing amateur football

Athletes with many "roles"

In Dien Bich commune, almost everyone knows the “prisoner” Tran Van Linh, from government leaders to people, from businesses to farmers’ associations. Linh is a “familiar face” in local cultural, physical education and sports activities, a dedicated referee in many football tournaments, a youth union member who is active in community activities… Previously, Linh was also the one who brought many high achievements to the commune and district in athletics and football in provincial sports tournaments.

Tran Van Linh referees a tournament. Photo: NVCC

As a 5th grader, after his impressive track and field performance at the Phu Dong Sports Festival, Tran Van Linh caught the eye of the coaches at the Center.Sportsprovince and was invited to the center for training. Living away from home, missing her father and mother and heavy physical exercises were the reasons why Linh gave up the path to becoming a professional athlete.

Not only athletics, Linh is also very passionate about football. In grade 10, recognizing Linh's talent for this sport, the uncles and brothers at the Dien Chau District Sports Center recruited this tall and skinny player into the district football team.

Recalling those years, Linh said: “My family has a tradition of sports. My brother is also a famous athlete and football player in the district. Although neither of us have a chance to pursue a professional career, we still feel happy because we can contribute and bring achievements to the locality in grassroots tournaments. Although my main job is driving a material truck, which is not related to sports, I always have the greatest passion for sports and cherish plans related to this field.”

Tran Van Linh organized a football match with Song Lam Nghe An players to raise charity funds and donate bicycles to poor students who are overcoming difficulties. Photo: NVCC

That dream was the motivation for Linh to decide in 2018 to establish a football training center for children in her hometown, searching for promising football talents. Thanks to Linh's reputation, many students registered to attend the center. Among Linh's students, 5 were accepted to Hanoi T&T Football Club, and 1 was accepted to Song Lam Nghe An Club.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic a year later was like a bucket of cold water pouring on Linh's plans. "The class could not open while the cost of maintaining the premises was high, one difficulty had not yet passed when another one came. In early 2020, in a match of the district football tournament, I tore my ligament and the doctor asked me not to continue playing football until I had surgery and recovered. For me, it was a cruel turning point. If I had surgery right away, I would have had to stop all activities and work for about a year" - Linh confided.

Linh is known as a passionate soccer teacher with children. Photo: NVCC

Because she did not want to leave her plans unfinished, up to now, Linh's leg has not been operated on, walking is still very difficult, and the wound occasionally hurts. Linh only stopped competing in sports tournaments and continued her remaining work to wait for a time when it would have less impact on the common work. Being the village Youth Union Secretary, village team leader, soccer teacher, referee..., in any role, Linh is loved and trusted.

Sports connect hearts

When she can’t participate in soccer tournaments, Linh focuses on organizing tournaments. This is when Linh’s ability to connect and her love of sports can do the most meaningful things for the community.

In early 2020, Linh collaborated with the Dien Chau District Youth Union to organize a charity football tournament, presenting 10 bicycles to 10 poor students who have overcome difficulties. In April 2020, Linh called on businesses to sponsor the Dien Chau Open Football Tournament, raising funds to present 15 gifts, each worth 2 million VND, to families in especially difficult circumstances. In July 2021, Linh continued to collaborate with the District Youth Union to organize a street football tournament, donating 40 million VND to give to policy families in difficult circumstances in the area...

Recently, in November 2022, Linh connected and organized a friendly match between Song Lam Nghe An players and the District Youth Union to raise funds and donate 30 bicycles to 30 poor students with good academic performance. In addition to sports competitions, Linh also initiated and participated in many other volunteer activities such as free car washes, cooking banh chung to raise funds, giving rice to workers affected by the Covid-19 epidemic...

Tran Van Linh (far left) presents support money raised from the football tournament to policy families.

Sharing about the dynamic village Youth Union Secretary, Mr. Ngo Thanh Cong - District Youth Union SecretaryDien Chausaid: “Tran Van Linh is a responsible, pioneering member, playing a key role in the district’s movements in general, and the physical education, sports and volunteer movements in the district in particular. Linh is always bold and proactive in accepting tasks with a spirit of learning and making every effort to complete them, not afraid of difficulties and hardships. That spirit is worthy for other members to follow.”

Indeed, through the sports tournaments he called for, Tran Van Linh has demonstrated his excellent ability to connect. Alone on a motorbike, Linh persistently knocked on the doors of each business, convincing each leader to create meaningful sports tournaments with volunteer meaning.

When asked about the secret to gaining everyone's approval, Linh humbly said: "Perhaps because I was lucky enough to gain the trust of local leaders and organizations before. In the first tournaments, when businesses, units, and philanthropists saw that prestigious figures participated in the event, they also trusted more. In later tournaments, they participated because of the prestige, professionalism, and influence of the previous tournaments."

Linh (in white shirt in the middle) gives bicycles to poor students in a charity football tournament that she organized.

To make Linh’s journey of connecting humanity go smoothly, before getting nods and successful tournaments, Linh had to write and rewrite plans and invitations, receive many rejections, handle unreasonable demands, and do stressful work… “Only by witnessing difficult families and unfortunate lives can I feel how small what I do is. That is also the motivation for me to share more within my ability” – Linh confided.