The story of Song Lam Nghe An players returning home for Tet (Lunar New Year).

After the first 10 rounds of the V-League 2024/25,Lam River, Nghe AnThey hadn't achieved the desired results. The team from Vinh only managed draws and losses. However, in the final round before welcoming the Year of the Snake, the Nghe An club finally broke their losing streak with a victory against Binh Duong. This result not only improved Song Lam Nghe An's points total but also helped the Nghe An players relieve pressure and welcome the new year with confidence and hope.

This year, coach Phan Như Thuật's players only had a mere 5 days off for Tet. On the afternoon of January 26th (the 27th day of the lunar month), the players were allowed to return to their hometowns to reunite with their families and celebrate Tet with relatives and friends.

For Tran Manh Quynh, Ho Khac Ngoc, Ho Van Cuong, and Phan Ba ​​Quyen, Tet is not only a time to rest after strenuous training and competition days, but also an opportunity to enjoy the warmth and reunion in the arms of their loved ones.

Manh Quynh prepares for Tet (Lunar New Year) with his mother.

For Tran Manh Quynh, he has always cherished a deep love for his homeland. Quynh has had a very busy year. Therefore, the Lunar New Year is an opportunity for him to put aside all work, return home to reunite with his family, and enjoy the atmosphere of his village. This year's Tet will likely bring many emotions to the 24-year-old midfielder, as he scored the goal that helped Song Lam Nghe An secure their first three points in the V-League 2024/25 season.

Returning to his hometown, Mạnh Quỳnh was delighted to go to the Tet market with his mother. "The rural market on the last day of the year has a very unique charm, both bustling and warm. Choosing each bunch of vegetables or packet of candy with my mother... made me clearly feel the tradition and the togetherness of Tet," Mạnh Quỳnh said.

Manh Quynh shared: "On the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), we had to regroup to prepare for the next leg of the season. I hope that in the new year, I and the whole team will have much luck, and thus achieve the goals we have set."

Ho Van Cuong's enthusiasm

Just like Mạnh Quỳnh, defender Hồ Văn Cường always considers Tet (Lunar New Year) the most important occasion of the year to reunite with his family after months away from home competing. For him, Tet is not just a time for rest, but also a moment to bond and share simple yet meaningful joys.

Every year, Ho Van Cuong's family waits for him to come home before they start making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes). For Cuong, this is not only a traditional custom but also a special moment that brings the whole family together for joyful and warm moments after a busy year of work. "Tet (Vietnamese New Year) must have banh chung made by the whole family together," Cuong shared.

Although he admits he's not good at wrapping bánh chưng (Vietnamese rice cakes), Cường says, "I really enjoy helping everyone, from cutting leaves and arranging the rice to tending the fire." For him, sitting by the warm fire, telling old stories and waiting for each batch of bánh chưng to cook brings a strangely relaxing and warm feeling.

Ho Van Cuong had an unlucky season, plagued by injuries. As a result, he missed many opportunities to play for Song Lam Nghe An. “I hope to be lucky and return to my best form, thereby contributing to Song Lam Nghe An achieving favorable results in their quest to avoid relegation,” Cuong said optimistically, affirming his determination as he heads into a hopeful new year.

Khac Ngoc's happiness

This year's Tet holiday holds special significance for midfielder Khac Ngoc. After a long period playing away from home, he has finally returned to play for his hometown team.

The presence of Khắc Ngọc has brought positive changes to the Nghệ An team. In round 11, the midfielder born in 1992 helped Sông Lam Nghệ An perform better, securing an important victory against Bình Dương. This achievement not only boosted Khắc Ngọc's personal confidence but also made this year's Lunar New Year more meaningful for him.

Returning to play for Song Lam Nghe An has also helped Khac Ngoc become closer to his family. In previous years, during Tet (Lunar New Year), Khac Ngoc was often busy with his competition schedule and couldn't be home to share the preparations with his wife. However, this year, Khac Ngoc has been able to be with his wife, sharing the Tet preparations. From cleaning and choosing peach blossom trees to preparing the ancestral offerings, everything is done together by the couple.

Besides spending time with family, Ho Khac Ngoc also took the opportunity to meet up with close friends. The stories shared at the year-end party were a way for him and his friends to reflect on the past year, share successes, lessons learned, and even unfinished plans.

In the new year, Khac Ngoc has high expectations for himself, hoping to help his hometown team overcome this difficult period. He shared: "With the experience I have accumulated after many years of playing, I hope to work with the young players of Song Lam Nghe An to achieve the goals that the team has set."

Although each player has their own way of celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year), the common thread among the Song Lam Nghe An players is their aspiration and determination for the new year. They hope that reunion with their families will give them strength to overcome challenges with the team and bring joy to the fans of Nghe An.