Join hands to elevate the Song Lam Nghe An brand

(Baonghean.vn) - Although not considered a "nail-biting" match, before the match between SLNA and Saigon FC, the atmosphere at Vinh Stadium seemed to "heat up" because of the launching ceremony of the contest "Song Lam Nghe An - the pride of Nghe An" organized by Nghe An Newspaper in collaboration with SLNA Football Joint Stock Company and VGG Entertainment Joint Stock Company.

The contest was launched on March 26 on Nghe An Newspaper publications and the official website of SLNA Club, and the Organizing Committee also received and posted entries from that time. However, it was not until 2 weeks later, when the National Football Championship (V-League) 2016 was temporarily suspended, giving way to the National Team and National Cup, that a launching ceremony was held at Vinh Stadium. However, the ceremony was no less solemn and made a special impression on the officials and spectators present at Vinh Stadium.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Pham Ngoc Vien - Vice President of VPF Football Joint Stock Company, the organizer of V-League 2016, affirmed:

“During my football career, this is the first time I have seen a newspaper and a local football team coordinate to organize such a large-scale, formal and systematic press competition. I was even more impressed when I learned that, for nearly 20 years, Nghe An Newspaper has been the organizer of a provincial-level youth football tournament, where talented players are discovered for the SLNA Club’s youth training center. Such activities will certainly contribute to promoting the local football movement in general and the development of SLNA Club in particular.”

Comrade Pham Thi Hong Toan - Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper talked with Mr. Pham Ngoc Vien - Chairman of the Board of Directors of VPF Company and Mr. Pham Hong Thanh - General Director of SLNA Football Joint Stock Company - Photo: Tran Hai.

The impressions of the contest “Song Lam Nghe An - the pride of Nghe An” are not only in the launching ceremony. After 2 weeks, the contest has received enthusiastic responses from football lovers, SLNA Club lovers from all over the country and Nghe An people studying and working abroad.

Many articles provide very sharp analysis and comments on expertise such as author An Thanh with the articles "Who is more comprehensive", "Discussing SLNA, viewed from the national team" or author Hoai Hoan with the article "Playing football must be passionate" giving an interesting different perspective on the concept of "cutting nails and cutting iron" playing style...

Associate Professor, Doctor of ScienceNguyen Quy Dy - second prize winner with the work "ĐThe condition for a number to be divisible by 11 is... to love football" - Photo: Sy Minh.

But more than anything else, the articles delve into the authors' impressions and memories of the players and the Song Lam Nghe An football team over the years, expressing pride and love for their hometown team and also their concerns about the club's limitations. In short, all the articles submitted to the contest express the wish that the Song Lam Nghe An football team will develop more and more, worthy of being the pride of millions of Nghe An fans.

In particular, we must mention special fans like Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quy Dy, former lecturer at Vinh University: “At the age of over 70, I still cannot explain all the matches why SNLA was winning like a bamboo split, then lost, then was losing like a bamboo split, then won, beat a very strong team like Becamex Binh Duong recently, but all the joys and sorrows in my heart just follow the results of the Nghe An team.

From my love for my hometown football team, inspired by my lectures to graduate students, I created an additional clause: "The condition for a number to be divisible by 11 is... to love football."

Another special fan is Mr. Le Thanh Hung, residing in Tien Thanh village, Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong district. Born in 1982, since childhood, Mr. Hung suffered from myasthenia gravis due to the effects of Agent Orange, making it very difficult for him to move around. However, he still tried to study, passed the entrance exam to the Faculty of Politics - Vinh University and graduated with honors. Besides, he has a special love for his hometown team SLNA. Since 1996, Mr. Hung has followed all of SLNA's matches, both live on the field and on television.

From 2000 to 2007, although myasthenia gravis was getting worse, Mr. Hung still went to watch all SLNA matches live at Vinh Stadium and other football fields in the North. In addition, he also participated in domestic football forums and thanks to the SLNA Club forum (slna-fc.com), Mr. Hung learned about the contest "Song Lam Nghe An, the pride of Nghe An".

Mr. Le Thanh Hung (middle) received the third prize of week 1 of the contest - Photo: Tran Hai.

Mr. Hung confided: "Up to now, I have never written an article, but only participated in exchanging opinions on online football forums. Therefore, when I wrote the first article about player Ha Mai Giang, I was very nervous because I was not sure whether my article would be used or not. But when I saw my article appear on Nghe An electronic newspaper, I felt more confident. After that, I had another article titled "More than a lover".

In this article, Mr. Hung wrote:

“Loving someone is not because they are special, but just because they bring special feelings to your heart. I also love SLNA for such things. Love inherently has many levels, happiness, pain, anger... And SLNA has allowed me to live fully in a true love.

People say that the more storms and challenges a love has to overcome, the stronger it will be. 21 years is not too long but it is enough for me to be proud of my love for "Song Lam Nghe An". I have always and forever sung, "When I am angry, I am angry but when I love, I love even more" every time the team is in trouble or loses a match. And I never stop shouting, "SLNA - The pride of the people of Nghe An".

In addition, the Organizing Committee also received articles expressing concern and pain with the limitations in the development strategy of the SLNA football team. In the article “Behind the "Pride of Nghe An"...”, author Phan Hao expressed his concern about SLNA losing young talents to football training centers with more investment. The author also affirmed:

“Few local media units can do what Nghe An Newspaper has done for football over the past 20 years. But clearly, in order for SLNA to be the “Pride of Nghe An”, in addition to Nghe An Newspaper’s efforts, SLNA also needs to find its own direction, because the shining stars here also catch the eye of scouts from other teams.... In order to avoid the situation of “going first, leaving later”, let’s see this competition as an event for those who love their homeland and are proud of Nghe An football to temporarily close the old page of history and join hands to raise SLNA’s level...”.

Mr. Ho Van Chiem - CEO of Song Lam Club received the thoughtful and enthusiastic opinions of fans through the contest, affirming: "The contest will contribute to encouraging the spirit of Song Lam Nghe An players, influencing the football people at Song Lam Club to be more aware, more responsible, and more imbued with the fact that Song Lam players are the ones who build the brand for Nghe An through football. From there, they will rise up, overcome difficulties and challenges, and meet the expectations and trust of Nghe An football fans."

Minh Quan