Coach Hoang Huu Nghia: Accept challenges to reap success

(Baonghean) Studying football but successfully becoming the head coach of the National Sepak Takraw Team, Hoang Huu Nghia is also the first coach of Nghe An to be honored to lead a national team to participate in international arenas and achieve many high achievements.

Graduated from the Football Department of the University of Physical Education and Sports (Tu Son - Bac Ninh) in 1993, Hoang Huu Nghia worked at the Nghe An Department of Physical Education and Sports. In 1997, Sepak Takraw was introduced to Nghe An, the leaders of the Department of Physical Education and Sports searched with red eyes but could not find any coach with expertise to lead the Provincial Sepak Takraw Team. Not afraid of difficulties in the new job, Hoang Huu Nghia stood up to take on the task.

Coach Hoang Huu Nghia (in white shirt) and the Nghe An Sepak Takraw Team won first prize at the 2011 National Sepak Takraw Doubles Championship.

To gain more knowledge about this sport, he read documents and took advantage of learning from colleagues every time he led the team to practice and compete. In 1998, for the first time, the Nghe An Sepak Takraw Team participated in the National Youth Tournament, against strong opponents such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi... but Hoang Huu Nghia and his students immediately won 1 gold medal. Since then, every year, the Nghe An Sepak Takraw Team under the guidance of Coach Hoang Huu Nghia has brought medals to the province.

At the 5th National Sports Festival (2010), Sepak Takraw was one of the sports that brought many medals to the province (1 gold medal, 2 silver medals, 2 bronze medals). At the 2011 National Championship, the Sepak Takraw Team of Nghe An excelled in winning 2 gold medals.

Having succeeded with the Nghe An Sepak Takraw Team, Coach Hoang Huu Nghia soon attracted the attention of domestic experts. In 2011, he was invited to become the coach of the National Youth Team, and in 2006, he became the coach of the national men's team. The news that Hoang Huu Nghia was the Head Coach of the National Sepak Takraw Team surprised many people, because in Vietnam there were still "veteran" Sepak Takraw coaches, typically the father and son coaches Ha Kha Luan and Ha Tung Lap. But right in the first time leading the team to participate in the 2006 World Championship, he and his students won 2 bronze medals, then at the 15th ASIAD in Quata with the women's team won 2 gold medals and 1 silver medal.

Talking to us, Hoang Huu Nghia said that being a coach of the national team always requires pressure on results. For him, that is not as difficult as having to be away from home often, having little time for family, but thinking about the honor and responsibility of a national coach, he throws himself into work.

After the resounding achievements of Vietnam's sepak takraw at the 15th ASIAD when winning against Thailand - the powerhouse of this sport, the three main players of Vietnam's sepak takraw, Luu Thi Thanh - Hai Thao - Bich Thuy, gradually lost strength and had to leave the field. Hoang Huu Nghia had to rebuild the team from scratch with young athletes such as Nguyen Thi Dung, Nguyen Thi Hoa, Dinh Thi Thuy Hang, Nguyen Thi Quyen... Anticipating the difficulties of having to compete with a young, inexperienced squad, at the 26th SEA Games, Hoang Huu Nghia still boldly set a target of 1 gold medal for the team to strive for. He believes that in sports, when you go on the field, you have to think about winning, and as a coach, you have to be confident so that your students will have motivation every time they enter the match. Although they did not achieve the results as planned, experts were still satisfied when the young athletes brought home 1 silver medal and 1 bronze medal.

Leading the national team with Hoang Huu Nghia is also an opportunity to help Nghe An rattan ball make great strides. Thanks to the efforts and dedication of Hoang Huu Nghia, from a new sport, Nghe An rattan ball has gradually grown and become a strong team in the Vietnamese rattan ball village. Athletes Nguyen Thi Quyen, Dinh Thi Thuy Hang... have also been called to the national team one after another, and will soon be the pillars of Vietnamese rattan ball.

Commenting on Hoang Huu Nghia, colleagues at Nghe An Sports Training Center said: Not afraid of difficulties, knowing how to sacrifice small things, Hoang Huu Nghia has achieved certain successes in his coaching career, making many people admire him.

These days, Coach Hoang Huu Nghia and the Vietnam Sepak Takraw team are training hard at the Athlete Training Center - University of Physical Education and Sports to prepare for the 3rd Asian Beach Sepak Takraw Championship in June 2012. I wish him and the Vietnam Sepak Takraw team will reap many achievements in this tournament.

Duc Chuyen