Coach Le Ky Phuong, Van Quyen and the pillars of U17 champion SLNA

One of the lucky things for this generation of playersU17 SLNAborn in 2003, 2004 of SLNA is led by coach Le Ky Phuong. A master in youth training with many titles, he also worked as assistant coach for coach Huu Thang in the 2011 V.League championship.

The success of the tournament came from the hard work of the young players, but the role of the coaches throughout the journey is very valuable. In the past few decades of youth training, the salary of coach Le Ky Phuong at SLNA was 8 million VND, the salary of assistant coach Pham Van Quyen was 6 million VND.

However, that is not the worry of Coach Le Ky Phuong when coming to the National U17 Finals this time. SLNA's opponents are training centers with strong investment, inviting dozens of foreign experts, having all superior policies and the talent they recruit is no less than SLNA's.

The hotel where U17 SLNA stayed in Hung Yen to compete in the 2020 National U17 Finals was actually just a budget motel. Photo: Ba Tuan

SLNA's young talents are entitled to 90,000 VND/day for meals, previously it was 60,000/day and the team that won the gold medal is entitled to 120,000/day. When competing in tournaments, they are entitled to 150,000/day for meals according to regulations and the total allowance including meals, accommodation and rest is 350,000/day.

That forced the teachers and students of SLNA youth teams to stay at motels instead of hotels. The teachers of U17 SLNA are also willing to wash clothes for the young players to save on service fees. While other teams such as PVF and Nutifood spend 1.5 million VND/day on food alone.

Returning to the 2020 National U17 Finals, coach Le Ky Phuong and his team set off. The teachers had to both perform their professional duties and calculate to balance the increase in food expenses because 50,000 VND/day was not enough to ensure nutrition.

Coach Le Ky Phuong (ranked 3rd) and his colleagues at the U17 SLNA team. Photo: Ba Tuan

Within their authority, the U17 SLNA coaches compensated the children for their meals by advancing the sponsor Bac A some money to increase their meals. And when they were sure of winning a medal, or even winning the championship, they would use a portion of the prize money from the tournament organizers to pay for the hotel.

When the teamU17 SLNA defeated PVF to reach the final, and U17 Nutifood surpassed HAGL. The other team received a huge bonus, not sure how much but it made the U17 SLNA coaching staff (Coaches Ky Phuong, Van Quyen, Van Hung, Ky Dai) very sad and sorry for their students.

The teachers used their own money, plus the parents contributed 14 million VND, divided among 28 players the bonus for the final. This was a great source of encouragement and motivation for the players before the match against U17 Nutifood, although Phuong shed tears when seeing the players happily receive the 500,000 VND bonus.

The U17 SLNA players have overcome difficulties, using disadvantages as motivation to strive. Photo: Hai Hoang

In the final, the U17 SLNA players exhausted their strength and stunned Nutifood. Before that, coach Phuong and the U17 SLNA coaching staff had assessed that this opponent would make it to the final. That was the reason why U17 SLNA deployed the reserve team in the 2-4 loss, creating opportunities for young players, key players to rest and to "read" the opponent. As for U17 Nutifood, they lost not because they lost their form, but because they underestimated U17 SLNA.

Youth football is like school and coaches do not only teach football, but also the issues of awareness, ethics, discipline and team spirit are things that coach Le Ky Phuong especially emphasizes. There was a time when coach Phuong used his two most favorite students, Dinh Xuan Tien and Nguyen Van Bach, as a "shield" to teach other unruly students who were growing up.

One morning, Coach Le Ky Phuong called Tien and Bach into the room and told them: "This afternoon when we play against each other, whatever I instruct you on the field, you guys do the opposite on the field for me."

U17 SLNA players collapsed after the final match due to exhaustion. Photo: Nhu Nguyen

He reminded them over and over again, giving them detailed instructions, and in the afternoon, every time he asked Bach and Tien to pass the ball to their teammates, these two players ignored him, dribbling and shooting on their own. As a result, after that training session, Coach Le Ky Phuong held a team meeting and punished the two young SLNA players to work and clean for a day, without having to practice.

The remaining young players must also be aware that, even though they are excellent and loved by the teacher like Bach and Tien, but are also punished, they must always follow the tactics that the teacher gives. After togetherU15 SLNA won the 2018 National U17 Championship.

It is very important to follow the tactics in the game. Come toNational U17 ChampionshipCoach Ky Phuong received bad news about his health. He needed to have heart surgery immediately and the job of shouting and directing his students was assigned to assistant coach Pham Van Quyen. And his assistant also worked at full capacity.

In the past, when SLNA was crowned king thanks to its inherent strength, now it is somewhat out of breath, so this U17 championship is more meaningful and valuable than ever. It proves the extraordinary determination and will of the people of Nghe An. And in that, there are also the silent sacrifices of football teachers who are devoted to their passion.

U17 SLNA's championship journey at the 2020 National U17 Finals

(Baonghean.vn) - Before reaching the final match against U17 Nutifood Academy, U17 SLNA had gone through a journey full of difficulties and challenges. However, coach Le Ky Phuong and his team demonstrated the mettle of the team that has won the championship 7 times in this tournament.