Authentic Nghe An

(Baonghean) - In the recently announced national team squad, SLNA has three players included: Cong Vinh, Nguyen Manh, and Manh Hung. However, looking at the broader picture, in the list of 23 players that coach Hoang Van Phuc has placed his trust in, Nghe An also has four more players: Dinh Luat, Van Binh, Trong Hoang, and Van Hoan. As in previous instances, the Nghe An spirit is the dominant characteristic and has a significant influence on the national team's playing style.

After the 7th round of matches on February 26th and 27th, the V.League 2014 will take a break to allow the national team to focus on preparing for a friendly match against a South Korean student team and, more importantly, a home game against Hong Kong in the Group E qualifying round of the 2015 Asian Cup. In this national team squad, Hanoi T&T and Binh Duong have the most players (5 each). Despite not having a good run of form recently, SLNA still has three players called up: Cong Vinh, Manh Hung, and Nguyen Manh.

For Vietnam's number one striker, Le Cong Vinh, this training camp holds great significance. In 2013, he mainly played for SLNA club and then went to Japan to play for Sapporo, so he didn't have the opportunity to join the national team. Still full of ambition, Cong Vinh hopes this will be his chance to showcase his abilities and contribute to the national team's victory. As for Manh Hung and Nguyen Manh, after a long period of training with the U23 Vietnam team, being called up to the national team is a big step forward, where they hope to further develop their skills.

Players Manh Hung and Cong Vinh. Photo: Internet

With his outstanding performance for SLNA, Nguyen Manh has a great opportunity to surpass his senior teammate Buu Ngoc to become the number one goalkeeper for the national team. In this training camp, Manh Hung is the youngest player, but he is by no means inexperienced, as this is the second time this player from Nghia Dan district has been named in the national team's training squad. Despite having to compete with his senior teammates, it is considered unlikely that Hung will lose his starting position.

The three SLNA players called up are all notable names and are likely to be entrusted with important responsibilities. However, the Nghe An spirit doesn't stop there, as 4 out of 5 B.Binh Duong players called up this time are also from Nghe An. Particularly noteworthy is the return of Dinh Luat, a player who rose through the ranks of school-based amateur leagues, then played for Military Region 4, N. Saigon, Xuan Thanh Saigon, and now B.Binh Duong. At one time, Luat was a key player in the national team's defense, but due to personal matters and some club issues, it took him two years to return to the national team.

The trio of Trong Hoang, Van Hoan, and Van Binh are no strangers to football fans. At the end of the 2013 season, B.Binh Duong spent a fortune to recruit them to Go Dau Stadium. Proving themselves worthy of the investment, Van Hoan, Van Binh, and especially Trong Hoang have all displayed outstanding form. The fact that these players have all been called up to the national team by coach Hoang Van Phuc is proof of their current performance.

Despite some staying and some leaving, the seven players mentioned above are all from Nghe An province and have played for Song Lam FC, so they share a relatively similar playing style. More importantly, they are all well-known players who have represented the national team many times, so they will certainly play a key role in the team.

SLNA has experienced its ups and downs, but its contributions to the national teams over the past decade have always been a source of pride for the people of Nghe An, as they have consistently had a dominant number of players. Furthermore, from players like Huu Thang, Sy Hung, and Phi Hung in the past, to Van Quyen, Hong Son, and Minh Duc before, and now Cong Vinh, Trong Hoang, and Manh Hung, they have all been outstanding stars, making significant contributions to the national team's success.

That is the result of a fundamental approach to football development, something that not many localities in Vietnam currently dare to invest in and persevere with.

Vinh Liem