Duc Anh and the "redundant" life

(Baonghean) -Although he was still registered to play for SLNA in the 2013 season, Duc Anh has gotten used to watching the matches from the stands. Since the day he broke his leg in Cao Lanh, Duc Anh has been taken care of by SLNA, but the suffering of an extra person that this goalkeeper is enduring is probably not something many people can feel.

Duc Anh is one of the few goalkeepers who received a fairly basic training. Those who work in youth training at Song Lam said that this goalkeeper was discovered quite early and when he was only 12 years old, Duc Anh was brought from Nghia Dan to Vinh for centralized training. Not disappointing the expectations of his family and teachers, Duc Anh soon demonstrated his ability.

In 2000, preparing for the U.16 Asian Cup held in Da Nang, coach Nguyen Van Thinh, after many experiments, decided to put his trust in Duc Anh. In that tournament, together with Van Quyen, Nhu Thuat, Lam Tan..., Duc Anh had a tournament that was more successful than expected and became known to many people.

Having made a name for himself and, importantly, making constant efforts, Duc Anh continued to be trusted when he became SLNA's main goalkeeper in the youth tournaments afterwards. Duc Anh's successes with the U.18, U.19 and U.21 teams are countless, but the main thing that people love about this goalkeeper is his personality and very standard lifestyle.

Capable and full of desire to contribute, Nghe An at that time was known as the cradle of goalkeeper training with famous names at that time such as The Anh, Hong Son, Duc Cuong... so for a young goalkeeper like Duc Anh, the challenge was huge. But as his inherent personality, Duc Anh still quietly made efforts to assert himself. In 2009, after many efforts, Duc Anh began to have a position and regularly appeared in the main squad of the Nghe team.

The future was wide open because at that time, Duc Anh was still young and there were many dreams ahead, when famous goalkeepers from Nghe An had left their homeland to join other teams. But life is unpredictable when Duc Anh suffered a terrible injury that still makes this goalkeeper shudder when recounting it. That was on April 26, 2009, SLNA had a guest trip to Cao Lanh of TĐCS.Dong Thap. The match was tense and in a situation where it was a win-lose situation, striker Timothy mercilessly kicked Duc Anh's shin, breaking his leg.

The match at Cao Lanh stadium, where Duc Anh broke his leg.

Having to be hospitalized urgently and having to spend a whole year in treatment, Duc Anh was able to move again. He had been involved in the matter of retiring to find another job more suitable for the post-operative condition of his legs, but due to his passion for football, Duc Anh decided to return to SLNA to fulfill the remaining years of his contract. Although at this time, the goalkeeper position at the Nghe An team was no longer as fiercely competitive as before, with his legs not yet creating the necessary balance, Duc Anh still could not regain his position. Thinking about the fact that in 2010, SLNA hired a foreign goalkeeper and then a year later brought in the then "unknown" goalkeeper Huynh Quoc Cuong, Duc Anh felt even more regretful because if he had not suffered the injury on Cao Lanh field, he might have been different.

Accepting to be a reserve player to find opportunities, but year after year, Duc Anh still cannot regain his former form. The proof is that in pre-season training matches or the National Cup, Duc Anh is still used but cannot make an impression.

Although he has not contributed much, SLNA still continues to re-sign Duc Anh as a way to support one of the club's most disadvantaged goalkeepers. He has constantly tried to repay the team, but in his current situation, it is very difficult to hope to contribute anything to Duc Anh. In fact, after many years of practicing balancing his feet, Duc Anh has been able to catch the ball again, but in SLNA's situation in the past 1-2 years, the opportunities for Duc Anh are very few.

Currently, in addition to Nguyen Manh and Viet Nam, Duc Anh also has to compete with the "veteran" Duc Thang for the position of goalkeeper number 3. A huge challenge for a goalkeeper who was injured and thought he would have to retire. The "redundant life" continues even though SLNA still ensures income and other conditions. However, for someone who chooses shorts and numbered shirts as a career, being able to play on the field is always a burning desire and of course, Duc Anh also has many indescribable feelings.

In the stands of Vinh Stadium in recent matches, when asked why he was not in the team's technical area ready to play, Duc Anh could only smile awkwardly. In fact, he did not know how to answer, because he was not injured, not suspended, not disciplined but….

Vinh Liem