Will the hot, dry winds from Laos help SLNA thrive?

(Baonghean.vn) - Vinh Stadium is often called a 'cauldron', not only because of the intensity created by the SLNA fans, but also because the stadium is truly very harsh due to the weather conditions.

In previous years' V.League seasons, there was another "cauldron" in Cao Lãnh, Đồng Tháp. This was considered the "sacred ground" of the Đồng Tháp team. Any opponent who came here was bound to suffer a defeat, or at least a draw. Even strong opponents like Hanoi FC struggled when playing at this stadium.

It's not just because Dong Thap is a tough opponent with high discipline, but also because their ability to withstand pressure makes their opponents bow in defeat and feel apprehensive before even putting on their boots to step onto the field.

Besides the fiery atmosphere of Cao Lanh, there's also the Da Lat stadium in Lam Dong. In the 1990s, before Lam Dong was relegated, any team that came here was intimidated. Many players couldn't last until the end of the first half due to the thin air and the pitch being much higher above sea level. Even SLNA, a team with good physical condition at that time, often lost whenever they came to Da Lat.

In the match against Hanoi, SLNA performed better thanks to their ability to withstand the heat - Photo: Hai Thinh

For the team from Nghe An province, SLNA is still highly regarded for its physical fitness and ability to withstand heat. Not to mention the period before Vinh Stadium had floodlights, when V.League matches had to be played in the midday sun. Even in the 2009 V.League season, coach Nguyen Van Thinh's team still managed to subdue their opponents under the scorching sun at Vinh Stadium at 4:00 PM.

That season, SLNA's foreign players weren't any better than they are now. However, their defensive counter-attacking style of play helped SLNA finish in third place that season.

The match between SLNA and Hanoi FC, recently played in the National Cup, saw SLNA fielding only one foreign player, Olaha, while the reigning V.League champions used three foreign players. However, SLNA did not play defensively, partly due to the extremely hot weather. The match had to be stopped several times for players to rehydrate, and it was clear that SLNA played with better spirit, and their opponents quickly became exhausted in the sweltering heat.

Ahead of the second half of the 2017 V.League season, SLNA can fully leverage this factor to exploit the weaknesses of other opponents when playing at Vinh Stadium or in Central Vietnam this summer. Temperatures in Central Vietnam, specifically in Nghe An, during this period often exceed 40 degrees Celsius. By understanding the weather conditions, the SLNA coaching staff can help their team maximize the strengths of their players and take advantage of their home ground.

The weather in Vinh will make things more difficult for SLNA's opponents - Photo: Trung Kien

Visiting teams usually only have one day and one training session at Vinh Stadium to acclimatize to the weather conditions. Naturally, SLNA, without better preparation than their opponents, will face difficulties even on their home ground.

According to the V.League second leg schedule, SLNA will host Than Quang Ninh in round 14, travel to Quang Nam in round 15, and meet Ho Chi Minh City in round 16 before returning home to face their arch-rival Hanoi in round 17. In round 18, SLNA will also play at Hoa Xuan Stadium against SHB Da Nang.

Another issue that SLNA and the medical team need to be aware of is that when breathing and resting in air-conditioned rooms, stepping out onto the hot, sunny field to play can easily cause players to suffer from heat shock and quickly lose energy.

By preparing well physically and applying this to the second half of the season, SLNA can certainly improve its performance. When facing the most difficult times, that's when SLNA needs to showcase the unique characteristics and spirit of the people of Nghe An.

Trung Kien