"Warrior" Ngo Hoang Thinh

(Baonghean) - Hoang Thinh's free-kick goal in the FLC Thanh Hoa vs. Than Quang Ninh match has just been voted the best goal of February and March in the V.League 2016. At his new club, Hoang Thinh continues to show that he is a "warrior," a crucial link in FLC Thanh Hoa's tactical scheme. His beautiful goal and excellent performance in the last five matches demonstrate that Thinh is worthy of the 2 billion VND/year FLC Thanh Hoa spent to recruit him.

In February and March, the V.League 2016 saw four matches, and Hoang Thinh's goal was voted the best goal of the period. It was a powerful shot by Thinh after a pass from Dinh Tung. A masterpiece, it caused the Thanh Hoa stadium to erupt in cheers. A goal truly befitting a warrior, Hoang Thinh proved his worth, even before arriving in Thanh Hoa. The award ceremony took place before the FLC Thanh Hoa vs. SHB Da Nang match on April 17th at the Thanh Hoa stadium. As his first individual award with his new team, Hoang Thinh said he was very proud.

Hoang Thinh in the FLC Thanh Hoa jersey.

In fact, the 1992-born player's wish was to continue playing for his hometown team. However, after a lengthy negotiation period, the two sides failed to reach an agreement, and Hoang Thinh had to leave. The SLNA coaching staff also regretted not being able to keep Hoang Thinh, as the midfielder's passionate playing style is something almost any coach would appreciate.

Contrary to the image of a pampered young man who prioritizes appearances, in training and competition, Hoang Thinh makes an impression with his impeccable physical fitness and fighting spirit. While he can play center back when needed, his preferred position is central midfielder. With his good physique and stamina, this midfielder excels in the role of intercepting passes – a difficult task that not everyone can accomplish. Thinh confided that playing that position is hard work and risky, yet very few people acknowledge his contributions.

Hoang Thinh's sacrifices are often quiet, so individual awards seem to elude him. This is something that has troubled Hoang Thinh for many years. In reality, as a football player, everyone wants individual awards to cherish memories and motivate their career. I remember in 2012, Hoang Thinh was the captain of the SLNA U21 team at the national championship finals. In that tournament, Thinh played outstandingly, proving himself worthy of being a senior player, contributing significantly to SLNA's championship victory. However, during the awards ceremony, Thinh had to sadly accept the "Best Player" award, which went to a younger player because they scored more goals and played in a more prominent position.

As a defensive midfielder, he contributed a lot but received little recognition, so he rose to prominence very early but to this day, he has yet to win any individual awards. For three consecutive years, Hoàng Thịnh has been disappointed to only finish in second place in the "Best Vietnamese Player of the Year" poll.

At the end of 2013, also because of his "courageous" playing spirit, Thinh suffered an injury and was unable to participate in the SEA Games at a time when he was full of desire to contribute. In the last one or two seasons, when the SLNA team lacked a top-class foreign player, Hoang Thinh had to shoulder almost all the responsibility. In some matches, besides defensive duties, Thinh also had to initiate attacks and take on many other tasks in the midfield.

Whether at SLNA or now at Thanh Hoa, Hoang Thinh has always played like a "warrior." Many may not know that he is currently suffering from a fairly serious knee injury. Despite this, driven by a burning desire to play, Thinh has had to receive painkiller injections in his knee before each match. Many have advised him to seek medical attention to resolve the issue completely, but the midfielder stated that he will only consider treatment after finishing the match against SHB Da Nang this weekend.

Vinh Liem