Cong Vinh: "If Van Quyen hadn't been involved in the scandal, we would have had the striker pair Vinh - Quyen"

PV:What made you decide to write an autobiography?

Cong Vinh:When I received the request to write an autobiography from journalist Tran Minh, I told my wife that I was no one, I was nothing to release an autobiography. After I retired from football, Mr. Tran Minh continued to persuade me to release an autobiography. At that time, my wife also said: "Why don't you write an autobiography, then use the royalties for charity, that way it will be a blessing for you and your children. Your autobiography is not about your life, but certainly how many children in the countryside of Nghe An or children in poor and difficult rural areas will have strong faith and determination in the journey to realize their dreams."

Cong Vinh was emotional when recalling the past. Photo: Huy Son

That is the reason why I agreed to publish my autobiography after being persuaded many times by journalist Tran Minh. I still think that if we have the will, we work well, according to our conscience, we will succeed in the future, not to become a player but to become a good person in society. With this autobiography, in addition to the stories that I have experienced, I want to send my childhood into it, to send to children in the same situation as me, to keep dreaming and keep trying, surely that dream will come true.

PV:How did singer Thuy Tien influence your decision to release your autobiography?

Cong Vinh:I really like the saying: "Behind every successful man is a woman." For me, knowing and loving Tien is a blessing. Tien has guided me through many things, and Tien is also the one who brought me to Buddhism, which helped me realize many things. Tien absolutely supports me in this book.

Singer Thuy Tien was the one who motivated her husband to release his autobiography. Photo: Huy Son

PV:The Vietnamese have a saying: “Live to keep in mind, die to carry with you.” In your book, you do not hesitate to share intimate palace stories. Aren’t you afraid of hurting the people mentioned?

Cong Vinh:I think the truth often hurts. It may hurt at the moment, but they will understand those things. I am the first player to release an autobiography, and the next players can also release their autobiographies. Then we will have a more comprehensive view of those stories, of Vietnamese football, and we will feel what it will be like. For me, I am not afraid of that, and I am sure that the people I mention may not be happy, but they will feel that what I say is absolutely true.

PV:Even though Van Quyen and you have retired for a long time, people still compare Cong Vinh with Van Quyen. Did you include this story in your autobiography?

Cong Vinh:In my autobiography, I also talked about Van Quyen. We should also understand that in football everyone has comparisons, just like people still compare Ronaldo with Messi. But I have a different style of play than Van Quyen, and if anyone likes Van Quyen, they will not like Cong Vinh. Van Quyen's style of play is more technical, dribbling; while mine is a simple, few-touch style.

However, whatever is said, Van Quyen and I are still friends, colleagues who have contributed to the Song Lam Nghe An team and the National team. Until now, both Van Quyen and I have retired from football. Therefore, let's respect what Van Quyen and I have contributed to put those things aside and make things better. For me now, comparisons or past events are no longer important.

Cong Vinh frankly answered about his relationship with his former teammate Van Quyen. Photo: Huy Son

PV:Some people say that if the Vietnamese team had not been involved in match-fixing that year, Cong Vinh would not have had a chance to show his talent. What do you think about this opinion?

Cong Vinh:This is completely untrue. At Song Lam Nghe An, Van Quyen and I also started together in 2004, both of us scored 11 goals. Later, when we joined the Vietnam national team, Van Quyen and I also played together. And in 2004, I won the Golden Ball at the age of 19.

Everyone has the right to compare, but I think we should look at the numbers, the statistics and we should not repeat old stories because for me, when Van Quyen's story happened, people mentioned it, I myself felt very sorry about that.

We should realize that if Van Quyen did not have those problems, we would have the striker pair Cong Vinh - Van Quyen. Why don't we think about that aspect? In this life, luck will visit the right people, and luck will not visit us for a long period of 10 or 20 years. Luck only comes to us once, the important thing is that we must have the ability.

PV:How does luck affect your career and life?

Cong Vinh:I think we have to admit one thing: Luck is necessary in this life. Not only football but any profession needs luck. But luck will never come to lazy people. Luck only comes to those who try their best and know how to seize opportunities. If luck comes to you, you seize it but you don't have the ability, then that luck will leave you. Someone else with the ability will replace that position.

PV:Specifically, how much percentage of luck accounts for Le Cong Vinh's success?

Cong Vinh:I think luck plays a very small part. Like Maradona said, natural talent only accounts for 10%, the rest we have to work hard to achieve some success. In life, no matter what job you do, you have to work hard to complete your mission, then we will get that money. If we do not work hard, we will never deserve to receive that money. The same goes for football.

Cong Vinh and his wife were affectionate at the event. Photo: Huy Son

PV:What do you want to send to readers through your autobiography?

Cong Vinh:This life has many surprises. Sometimes we plan but we do not follow the plan, there are surprises that will come to us. And how do we accept it, do we feel happy about it or not. The message I want to send to readers is that no matter where we start, we have dreams, we have determination, we try our best, we will succeed. And more importantly, this life contains many surprises at the 89th minute, at the time we cannot think of. And that brings us boundless happiness.

PV:It is known that all royalties from book sales will be used by you and your wife for charity work. Do you plan to set up a charity fund?

Cong Vinh:My husband and I have always done charity with the principle of always finding the right people in the right place, and doing it publicly. We have done a lot of charity, and until now we still support poor families and send children to college. We still do it quietly and will continue to do it. We will go to the place, verify it, and then help, not through any organization. We do not want to set up a fund because we do not want to be bound by anything. The money my husband and I earn is legitimate, we do it ourselves, without calling on anyone.

PV:After your autobiography, what are your upcoming plans?

Cong Vinh:I still do CV9 Community Football Academy and my sports projects.

PV:Thanks for sharing this!