Let SLNA be the pride of the people of Nghe An province.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, as we all remember, there were many matches where tens of thousands of spectators braved the sun and rain, traveling from 11 am to try and get into the stadium to watch SLNA play in the afternoon. In many matches, thousands of people had to stay outside the stadium to hear the cheers from inside. That particular match...SLNAWhen SLNA played against Dong Thap, tens of thousands of people outside the stadium tried every way to catch a glimpse of them, even if it was just a glimpse of their silhouettes on the field. Hundreds of people even climbed onto the roof of the training facility to peek in, causing the building to collapse... In those years, football was truly a festival for the entire nation.

So what attracts the audience to the stadium, what creates the "Vinh Stadium cauldron" where any team coming to Vinh Stadium would be overjoyed just to earn a single point? Perhaps it stems from the unwavering fighting spirit of the SLNA players, from their team colors and colors, and from their pride in their homeland.

SLNA fans hope their team from Nghe An will get points when they face HAGL. Photo: SLFC. Archival photo.

I remember that in 1993, when the Department of Physical Education and Sports was re-established, it decided to disband the football talent class at the Provincial Athlete Training Center and merge it with the Song Lam football team to form the SLNA Football Team, with its own seal and bank account. In terms of organization, Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh was appointed team leader, and Mr. Nguyen Thanh Vinh was appointed deputy team leader and head coach. Political, ideological, and Party organization work, as well as the Youth Union, were given top priority. I recall that on one occasion, to boost the morale and spirit of the players before a tournament, a ceremony was held in Nha Trang to admit five new Party members.

On the field, there were always players who were Party members in all three lines: in the defense, there were Quang Hai and Dinh Nghia; in the midfield and forward lines, there were Quang Bao, Quang Truong, Ky Phuong, and Dinh Dung… Therefore, they always gave their all on the field with a spirit and responsibility to the people. That's why fans called Song Lam "a whole world of love," and "Song Lam, the pride of the people of Nghe An," names that originated in those days.

SLNA desperately needs strong support from its home fans. (Photo: Duc Anh)

By 2004, after three years of professional football, due to numerous ideological and behavioral issues, as well as many negative incidents occurring within SLNA, the province decided to launch a major overhaul, entrusting the Department of Sports and Physical Education to carry it out. The reform plan, outlined by the then Provincial Party Secretary, was concisely stated in four sentences:

"Stone honestly so the people will believe."

Stone is devoted to serving the people.

Winning the game brings joy to the people.

"Beautiful stones bring joy to the people."

Today, SLNA is also undergoing a new, more difficult and intense restructuring. In particular, the team is at the bottom of the table while its foreign players are weak, and while the older generation is still inexperienced, the younger generation is still lacking... In this context, the views of the former Provincial Party Secretary regarding SLNA remain just as relevant.

The core message of that viewpoint is "All for the people, by the people." I would like to reiterate this so that those involved in Nghe An football can reflect on it, aiming to renew their thinking, approach, and methods, and to ensure that SLNA remains a source of pride for the people of Nghe An forever.

Fans from Nghe An province across the country always show their support for their hometown team. (Photo courtesy of Hoai Hoan)

Honest stone for the people to believe:Losing faith means losing everything. So how do we regain people's trust? Let's think, if the result is already "leaked" before even entering the stadium, who would want to come and watch? Back then, there were chants like: "Hooray for the Song Lam team, returning from doing business in the South..." What fans want when they come to the stadium is to see SLNA play honestly and wholeheartedly. Fair play creates drama and surprises; that's what football is all about, and that's why football is considered the king of sports. Playing honestly, fairly, without collusion or giving away points... whether it's a loss or a draw, the fans will still love it. Only then will it attract and draw fans to the stadium to cheer and support wholeheartedly, making both home and away games a cauldron for SLNA to win.

Stone dedicated to serving the people:In training and competition, the players are always burning with enthusiasm, giving their all. Diligence and hard work are virtues of the people of Nghe An. Watching a match where players give their all in every play, in tackling, saving a goal, striving to chase a ball until the referee's whistle... their sweat-drenched bodies after training and after the match demonstrate the exemplary dedication of the players. Seeing sweat streaming down their faces, bandages wrapped around them, yet still playing, who wouldn't feel compassion? That's what makes the people love them and the fans cherish them.

Winning the game brings joy to the people:Winning is the goal of the match. Whenever players compete honestly and dedicatedly, the result, whatever it may be, will please the fans. However, achieving victory is the desire not only of the players but also of the fans. Every time a goal is scored, it brings joy to everyone, the cheers erupting – that is the ultimate joy for football fans. Therefore, the team's goal of winning is also to bring joy to the entire nation.

SLNA fans at Vinh Stadium. (Photo: Archival image)

Victory means arduous training; in training and competition, players and coaches must always demonstrate a burning desire to win through their utmost effort, exploring and exploiting the team's strengths, counteracting the opponent's strengths, and cleverly and quickly handling every situation honed through training to achieve the highest possible results in competition. This is also the principle of "compensating for lack of ability with hard work." Only then can victory be achieved, bringing joy and satisfaction to the fans.

Beautiful stones for the people to enjoy.The goal of competition is to win. But not to win at all costs with brutal, ruthless tactics, eliminating opponents to achieve victory. Beautiful play here creates pride for the people of Nghe An. We still remember the match at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, between SLNA and Saigon Port: Thanh Tuan, surrounded by four opposing players at the corner flag, executed a skillful move: his left foot flicked the ball up, his right foot hooked it into the 16.5-meter box for his teammate to shoot into the Saigon Port goal; or dozens of passes, dribbles past opponents, sliding tackles, and dangerous shots… all brought joy and excitement to the spectators. Those beautiful plays will forever remain in memory, a source of pride for football fans in Nghe An. However, to achieve such beautiful, high-class plays, each player must "train hard to become skilled, work diligently to become proficient." Indeed, winning a match with such plays and goals brings joy and excitement to the fans.

SLNA fans are likened to the 12th player. (Photo: Archival image)

With the hope that this second comprehensive reform will be thorough, with a spirit of innovative thinking, approach, and methods to bring about practical results, and that the reform will succeed, restoring confidence so that fans will flock to the stadium again, making Vinh Stadium a sacred ground, the invincible cauldron of SLNA as before, I would like to outline four criteria that the first reform failed to fully implement. Hopefully, this second time, those involved in football will reflect on how to make Song Lam Nghe An worthy of its title as "The pride of the people of Nghe An."