Defender Nguyen Anh Hung: A shining example of perseverance

A journey full of obstacles

Orphaned from a young age, the player born in 1992 grew up in the arms of his hard-working mother. Realizing that her son had talent and was passionate about football, Nguyen Anh Hung's mother decided to let her beloved son pursue a career in "shorts and shirts". Like many other young football talents from Nghe An, Nguyen Anh Hung chose the SLNA training center to join.

With his tireless efforts through years of training and many “tests”, Nguyen Anh Hung was finally able to join the SLNA U21 team. “The joy was short-lived”, after returning from the 2012 National U21 Finals, Nguyen Anh Hung had his contract terminated by the Nghe An team because he did not meet the professional requirements.

That stumble “right at the gates of heaven” almost broke the will of the player in his twenties. But thanks to the encouragement from his mother in his hometown, Nguyen Anh Hung stood up again, wiped away his tears, and took his application to apply for jobs at all the football teams. And fortunately, Hung Vuong An Giang Club welcomed the unemployed young man from faraway Nghe An.

Nguyen Anh Hung was once a victim of violent football. Photo: FBNV

In his first season playing for Hung Vuong An Giang Club, Nguyen Anh Hung played quite well, helping his team gain the right to play in V.League. The reward for the former U21 SLNA player was a new contract. However, Nguyen Anh Hung's peaceful days at the team in the Mekong Delta region did not last long, when misfortune once again "knocked on the door".

During the away match of Hung Vuong An Giang Club against SLNA in round 7 of V.League 2014, Nguyen Anh Hung suffered a very serious injury (broken leg) from a tackle that was too fierce for his senior Tran Dinh Dong. As a result, Nguyen Anh Hung had to stay away from the football field for nearly a year and faced the risk of retirement. A huge shock to Nguyen Anh Hung.

It seemed that misfortune still had not let go of the Nghe An player, when the injury was almost completely healed, the Board of Directors of Hung Vuong An Giang Club announced the dissolution of the team after being relegated not long ago. Nguyen Anh Hung's adventure at Long Xuyen Stadium ended in anxiety and disappointment.

“After the rain, the sky is clear again”

There is a saying: “in misfortune there is fortune”. While he was confused and did not know where to go, Nguyen Anh Hung received a “lifebuoy” from Hai Phong Club. Like “a drowning man clutching a pole”, the former defender of Hung Vuong An Giang Club threw himself into training to win the trust of the coaching staff of the Hai Phong team. Witnessing Nguyen Anh Hung’s tireless efforts, Coach Truong Viet Hoang kept this player to play for Hai Phong Club in the 2015 season.

Not letting down the trust and affection of the Board of Directors and the Coaching Board of the Lach Tray Stadium team, Nguyen Anh Hung always played with the highest enthusiasm. The more he played, the more excellent he became, so in no time Nguyen Anh Hung became a mainstay in the home team's defense. Whether he was arranged to play as a left-back or right-back, the player from Nghe An always completed the assigned tasks excellently.

At Lach Tray Stadium, Anh Hung (number 92) played very well. Photo: Pham Ky Luat.

At the end of the 2018 season, Nguyen Anh Hung left Lach Tray Stadium to join Quang Nam Club with a 2-year contract. The former U21 SLNA defender said goodbye to Hai Phong Club and Hai Phong football fans in tears before the endless applause in the stands of Lach Tray Stadium. This was a regretful farewell, but there were no complaints. Simply put, Nguyen Anh Hung did everything he could for the "rice noodle land" team.

In the past 2 seasons, playing for Quang Nam Club, Nguyen Anh Hung has still proven his inherent talent. In V.League 2019, Nguyen Anh Hung played in 17/26 matches, although he had to rest many times due to injuries and penalty cards. Up to now, in V.League 2020, the defender from Nghe An has been present in both of the first 2 matches of the Tam Ky home team and contributed to 1 goal, which was a cross that caused Hai Phong Club's center-back Hoang Vissai to score an own goal on March 13.

It is worth mentioning that, despite being the victim of fouls and kicks from the opposing team, Nguyen Anh Hung never retaliated or did anything similar. The Nghe An player's playing style is strong and fiery but within acceptable limits. That is why, throughout the past time, the defender born in 1992 has never been directly shown a red card by the referees to disqualify him from the match. Because, Nguyen Anh Hung always believes: "What you do not want for yourself, do not do to others".

Watching Nguyen Anh Hung play successfully for Hai Phong Club and Quang Nam Club, experts, colleagues and football fans in the country all feel extremely admiring the rise of the former U21 SLNA player. It is not an exaggeration to say that the 28-year-old defender is one of the shining examples of determination and will of Vietnamese football./.