Youth - Children Football Tournament, Nghe An Newspaper Cup: Hung Nguyen Youth Determined to Win the Gold Cup

Children's team tries to pass the group stage

From ancient times to the present, Hung Nguyen district has been famous as one of the “cradles” of Nghe An football. This is the hometown of many famous players, such as Pham Van Quyen, Ho Thanh Thuong, Au Van Hoan, Tran Dinh Hoang, Ho Khac Ngoc, Ho Tuan Tai, Pham The Nhat, Nguyen Van Duc… This hometown has also produced many famous football strategists and “architects” such as Nguyen Thanh Vinh and Ho Van Chiem.

Hung Nguyen District Children's Football Team practices to prepare for the 24th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament in 2022. Photo: Thanh Chung

Having such a football tradition, but during 23 years of participating in the Youth - Children's Football TournamentNghe An Newspaper Cup(the most prestigious youth football tournament of the province), the achievements of the youth football teams of Hung Nguyen district are quite modest. In the youth playground, Hung Nguyen team won Silver Medals twice, Bronze Medals once. In the children's playground, the highest achievement of Hung Nguyen team was winning Silver Medals in the 2015 season.

Mr. Vo Van Phuong - Deputy Director of the Center for Culture, Sports and Communication of Hung Nguyen district shared his feelings: "The reason Hung Nguyen can stand shoulder to shoulder with other "cradles" of football in the province such as Quynh Luu, Yen Thanh, Do Luong is because the people here love football, especially youth football. In the district, there are people who are always devoted to discovering and nurturing young football talents.

The young players of Hung Nguyen district are very talented. However, when participating in the Youth - Children's Football TournamentNghe An Newspaper Cup, Hung Nguyen football teams were not lucky. One year, when playing a friendly match, Hung Nguyen Children's Team was on par with the entire youth team of Song Lam Nghe An Football Club; they beat strong teams like "splitting bamboo". However, when entering the tournament, they were eliminated right from the group stage. After the tournament, 5/5 of the main team's children's players that year were brought back by Song Lam Nghe An Football Club for intensive training and development.

This year, the Hung Nguyen District Children's Football Team only aims to try to pass the group stage. Photo: Thanh Chung

Entering the 24th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children's Football Tournament in 2022, the Hung Nguyen District Children's Football Team is in a "mixed mood". The joy is that the discovery and training of the gifted football class has achieved good results. In the gifted class, 03 young players have been signed by the Song Lam Nghe An Football Club; 04 other young players are on the list to continue monitoring in the tournament. The sadness is that the number of Hung Nguyen District Children's Football Team participating in the tournament is all in this gifted class. According to the tournament's regulations, the Hung Nguyen District Children's Football Team has lost 3 of its best stars.

Mr. Ngo Duc Trung, coach of Hung Nguyen Children's Team, shared: Comparing the strength of other teams, this year's Hung Nguyen Children's Team only aims to try to pass the group stage. From now until the tournament, the team will increase physical training; increase friendly matches with other teams to rub shoulders and improve the children's competitive spirit. Hopefully, in the tournament, luck will accompany the team.

Youth Team Aiming for the Gold Cup

At this time, the 02 district children and youth teams are increasing their training sessions, regardless of rain or shine, on 2 artificial turf fields and natural grass. Training on artificial turf fields to practice skills; training on natural turf fields to improve physical strength.

The Hung Nguyen District Youth Football Team is very strong this year. The predecessor of the district youth team is the primary school football team that won the Silver Medal at the Phu Dong Provincial Sports Festival 2 years ago. Photo: Thanh Chung

Unlike the Children's team, the Hung Nguyen District Youth Team participating in the 24th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament in 2022 is considered very strong. The predecessor of the district youth team is the primary school football team that won the Silver Medal at the Phu Dong Provincial Sports Festival 2 years ago. In addition, the coaches of this team have traveled to all communes in the area, coordinating with schools to find students with football talent to supplement the youth team.

Mr. Vo Van Phuong - Deputy Director of the Center for Culture, Sports and Communication, and Coach of the Hung Nguyen District Youth Team said: During the training process, the Coaching Board will select children who ensure physical strength, speed, and technique to build the most satisfactory team... Participating in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup in 2022, the Hung Nguyen Youth Team aims to win the Gold Cup.

Participating in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup in 2022, the Hung Nguyen Youth team aims to win the Gold Cup. Photo: Thanh Chung

Mr. Vo Van Phuong also expressed: There are very good players in the youth team. This is a generation of "late bloomers". Hopefully, during the competition, the scouts of Song Lam Nghe An Football Club will continue to monitor, evaluate and select more talents in the Hung Nguyen District Youth Team in particular and other youth teams in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup. In previous seasons, there have been teenage players who caught the eye of the recruiters of Song Lam Nghe An Club and famous youth football training centers across the country.

Due to the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, many localities in the province can only send 01 children's or youth football team to participate in the 24th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament in 2022. The fact that Hung Nguyen district sent 02 football teams to participate in the youth football playground clearly demonstrated the efforts, attempts, as well as the heart for children of this locality. Hopefully, in this year's season, 02 football teams of Hung Nguyen district will compete well, re-establishing history in the Newspaper Cup.