Do Luong determined to defend the championship of the Youth and Children's Cup of Nghe An Newspaper

(Baonghean.vn) - With a long history of achievements over 20 years of the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament, Do Luong has truly become a great team that other districts, cities and towns in the province admire and respect. Before each tournament, the district's youth and children's football teams are always considered the top candidates for the championship of both age groups.

Coach Tran Van Son instructs his students on how to move without the ball.

Like many other rural areas, when summer comes, children in Do Luong are immersed in the passionate atmosphere of football. On the football fields, in the fields that have just been harvested, young players enthusiastically play with the round ball, creating "fiery" matches.

No one knows when the passionate love for football in Do Luong was formed; only that love has given wings to Do Luong to produce many big "names" of Vietnamese football - that is star Cong Phuong, who has experienced the J-League (Japanese National Championship; national players such as Nguyen Manh, Quang Tinh...)

This summer, the big concern of Do Luong football fans is the two youth and children teams of the district about to enter the Youth - Children Football Tournament, Nghe An Newspaper Cup.

Fans are wondering whether their “darlings” will continue to conquer the pinnacle of the Cup like their “seniors” before? Will any future national players be discovered?

In fact, fans' expectations are very high because, during the 20 years of the Newspaper Cup, Do Luong is a "big guy" with the most "huge" achievements:

With the youth age group, Do Luong won the championship in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013 and won the Bronze Medal in the 2016 season; with the children age group, Do Luong also made "huge" progress: in the 2014 season, the team won the runner-up position, in the 2015 season, won the Bronze Medal, in the 2016 season, won the championship.

Do Luong children's team practices ball handling skills.

Not letting down the trust of the district's fans, 1 month before the start of the Nghe An Newspaper Cup youth football tournament, the district's 2 junior football teams have entered a rigorous training program. Under the May sun, at the district stadium, every morning and afternoon, teachers and students review their lessons and practice their notebooks...

In the stadium stands, there are always dozens of people who are parents of young players, young football lovers, watching every step, admiring the beautiful passes and dribbles. To them, the young players from the district always play the best.

It is known that in order to prepare for the biggest tournament of the year for youth and children organized by Nghe An Newspaper, from the beginning of May, Do Luong Culture - Sports Center has prepared the field as well as other conditions to create favorable conditions for players to participate in training; assigning staff - coaches in charge of youth teams and Children's teams.

During the training process, the coaches not only focus on training the children's physical strength and tactics, but also on training their awareness and lifestyle; logistics, organizing meals, and scientific training and rest hours are no different from those of professional players... About 10 days before the tournament, the coaches will select the best players for advanced training and accommodation in the district. At the same time, the Do Luong Culture and Sports Center will conduct investigations and consolidate records to ensure the correct age and other regulations set forth by the Organizing Committee.

Mr. Lam Hoang Lan, Director of the Do Luong District Cultural and Sports Center, said: Every year, the district and Song Lam Football Club always maintain a gifted football class for children here. The district's youth team will be selected based on this football class. The Do Luong district youth team was also established in early May. The strength of the two Do Luong youth and children's football teams comes from the abundant number of young players, from professional training methods, proficiency as well as the spirit of competition.

“We will enter this tournament as a candidate, so there will be more determined teams. Therefore, all preparations are very thorough to wait for the day of the battle,” added Mr. Lam Hoang Lan.

Do Luong Youth players practice attack plans.

Currently, nearly 2 weeks before the tournament, the Do Luong team has entered the final stage of the training program. On the training field, under the scorching sun, the players still demonstrated their top football skills. This makes those who witnessed the training session believe in another successful season for Do Luong youth football.

However, when evaluating the ability to protect the achievements, Mr. Tran Van Son - Head coach of the children's team is still very modest: "We do not set any goals, because doing so will put pressure on the players and also because the tournament is increasingly high quality, the teams have determined that this is the biggest playground in the summer for teenagers and children, so there is a huge investment. In addition, currently, the gifted football training class of Song Lam Club has been established in 17 districts, cities and towns - This tournament is a launching pad, a place to discover football talents and develop, so both students and teachers of the training centers must compete and try their best. Therefore, the 2 teams of the district will try their best in each match, to become the champion, they must know how to overcome many other strong teams and we will try our best"...

In fact, previous seasons have proven: The winning formula of Do Luong district football teams bears the mark of knowing themselves and knowing their opponents, the players' ability to overcome difficulties, plus the "weirdness" of veteran coach Tran Van Son, who is known as "Carlo Ancelotti" in the youth football world.

The belief of Do Luong district's youth football fans that they are "not the best, but at least second or third" is completely justified. The secret is revealed: The core of the youth team are players who are regularly trained in gifted classes opened by the local Song Lam Nghe An football team (Currently, there are 2 players from the district who are playing for U11 Song Lam Nghe An in the national tournament - they will join the team before G-time; and the youth team are also players who are carefully selected by experts who have worked for many years in youth football training in the district...

The joy of victory of the players and coaches of the ND Do Luong team at the 20th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children Football Tournament, 2016.

Currently, the junior teams have all entered the "secret" tactical training phase, ready to once again step onto the podium of glory at the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament.

South Scene-Thanh Chung