We with player Cong Vinh
I shook hands with footballer Cong Vinh for the first time in his hometown, the "Red Village" of Vinh City. Not on the football field, but on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs, July 27, 2007. That day, Vinh had already begun to show his exceptional football talent compared to other players his age. On that day, Cong Vinh and Huy Hoang visited a special group of 15 war invalids and veterans with a disability rating of 81% or higher. The two players also donated some money to the veterans to support their charitable activities.
(Baonghean)I shook hands with footballer Cong Vinh for the first time in his hometown, the "Red Village" of Vinh City. Not on the football field, but on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs, July 27, 2007. That day, Vinh had already begun to show his exceptional football talent compared to other players his age. On that day, Cong Vinh and Huy Hoang visited a special group of 15 war invalids and veterans with a disability rating of 81% or higher. The two players also donated some money to the veterans to support their charitable activities.
Through a warm, sincere, and emotional handshake, I told the two key players of the SLNA football team about the special care and support they receive from the Party and people of Vinh City for their wounded soldiers. Each of them has different severe injuries. Some have lost arms, legs, undergone abdominal surgery, had ribs removed, or lost eyesight... all from the two wars against France and the United States.
Before joining the army, they had all been passionate about football since elementary and middle school. Wherever they met, they could play football together – on a narrow grassy road, in their yards, or in the cooperative's warehouse yard... They would take off four sandals or use their shirts and hats as goalposts, without considering height, divide themselves in half, and start playing. Sometimes it was one class playing against another, or a village from one end playing against a village from the other.
The balls were either withered grapefruit or a large quantity of dried banana leaves rolled tightly and tied with banana fiber like a net, then kicked enthusiastically. At school, they'd forget about the bells and gongs, forgetting to go to class. While tending buffaloes, they'd forget about letting the buffaloes eat the crops. They'd play all day, under the scorching sun, in the rain, or in the wind... regardless. Sometimes they'd even draw in adults and girls to join the game. Because of their passion, many were punished by teachers, scolded by parents, and sometimes even beaten with a stick.
Then, war broke out, and we had to take up arms and go fight. The ferocity of the war made us forget our passion for becoming football players on our hometown field.
When the war ended, many of our friends died and never returned, while we became wounded soldiers.
When our provincial team became stable, we disabled veterans were very happy and encouraged our children and grandchildren to try out for the team. Every weekend, we still drive our wheelchairs to watch and cheer on the players from our hometown as a way to forget the pain of our injuries...
During that meeting, Cong Vinh also promised us: He would try his best to train, improve his skills and tactics, and together lead the provincial team to many victories, worthy of the trust and love of the elders.
Cong Vinh is soaring high with SLNA.
So, we always follow the SLNA team, considering it a source of pride. Wherever they play, seeing Cong Vinh and the SLNA players improve day by day makes us very happy. We are also very happy that the team has had some players selected for the national team, including Cong Vinh and the other players chosen for the national team, and we see that everyone plays their best.
Winning and losing are the rules of football, sometimes even a matter of luck; but the greatest joy is watching matches where the home team players give their all for their team's colors. During the match, the fans in Vinh were enthusiastic but there was no hooliganism.
In recent years, I've regularly followed SLNA's matches, but I felt like something was missing because Cong Vinh no longer plays for his hometown team. Then I heard a lot about Vinh's ups and downs with his club and the national team, about foreign teams expressing interest in signing him...
But then Cong Vinh returned to his hometown team, to the welcoming reception of his teammates and fans like us.
I often attended matches in Vinh, and once, while sitting in my wheelchair, I saw Cong Vinh skillfully receiving, dribbling, and passing the ball. When Vinh had a chance to score, I shouted: "Shoot!" My right leg amputated also kicked, causing my wheelchair to tilt, and some of the spectators next to me laughed.
As for me, I saw Cong Vinh advancing with his teammates.
Dang Sy Ngoc (Trung Dong Ward, Hung Dung Commune)
