Cong Phuong: 'Wandering around makes life tiring'
(Baonghean.vn) - Next season, the "Vietnamese Messi" will play for the Thong Nhat Stadium team on loan from Sint Truidense Club. It is known that the contract between Ho Chi Minh City Club and the Belgian team lasts until the end of June 2020.
So the 1995-born striker’s third trip abroad was not as successful as initially expected by Mr. Doan Nguyen Duc and the country’s football fans. In the Sint Truidense first team jersey, Nguyen Cong Phuong only played for 20 minutes. As a result, the Nghe An player was “no longer himself” when joining the Vietnam National Team.
Nguyen Cong Phuong's situation in Belgium is similar to what this player had to go through and endure in Japan (Mito HollyHock Club) and Korea (Incheon United Club) before. Up to now, it can be confirmed that Sint Truidense Club recruited Nguyen Cong Phuong only for commercial purposes.
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Nguyen Cong Phuong is often left out of the Sint Truidense club's playing list. |
To be honest, Nguyen Cong Phuong’s failure in Belgium did not surprise many experts and Vietnamese football fans. Objectively speaking, Nguyen Cong Phuong’s class has not been able to shine in the Belgian Football Championship (Division 1A) – the place that has given wings to stars like Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne…
Former coach Marc Brys once commented on the 24-year-old striker as follows: “Nguyen Cong Phuong is a lovable guy. He is quick, fast and always plays directly. But Cong Phuong is still weak in tactics. He has not adapted to the tactical system that I am applying. Cong Phuong also needs to be wiser, knowing when to or when not to overcome his opponent.”
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At Thong Nhat Stadium, Nguyen Cong Phuong will play alongside “Vietnam’s Ronaldo” Tran Phi Son. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Club |
Hopefully, after his adventures with Mito HollyHock, Incheon United and Sint Truidense, Nguyen Cong Phuong will quickly find himself again in the 2020 season. Remember, in his previous return home (late 2016), Nguyen Cong Phuong had 2 brilliant seasons with HAGL, with 7 goals in V.League 2017 and 12 goals in V.League 2018.
Well then, "I go home and bathe in my own clothes - whether clear or muddy, my own pond is still better", right Phuong?!