Ho Sy Sam: From 'silent warrior' to 'super substitute'

(Baonghean.vn) - Although his forte is playing as a central midfielder, Ho Sy Sam rarely had the opportunity to showcase his abilities while wearing the Nghe An team's jersey.

Four seasons have passed, and the 24-year-old player has become accustomed to the role of 'super substitute' at Vinh Stadium.

1In the 73rd minute of the 2014 V. League Round 20 match between Dong Nai and SLNA at Bien Hoa Stadium, young midfielder Ho Sy Sam scored with a precise rebound shot, leveling the score at 1-1 for the visiting team from Nghe An. This remains the most memorable moment for the player born in 1993 in the V. League to date.

Anyone who witnessed Ho Sy Sam's performance on the afternoon of July 6, 2014, would have guessed that the career path of the midfielder from Quynh Luu would be so difficult.

Ho Sy Sam is known as the super substitute player.

Emerging from the 2009 Hai Nhan Cup National U17 Championship held in Nam Dinh city, Ho Sy Sam, then only 16 years old, was one of the youngest players in the SLNA U17 team. However, this midfielder's playing style was very mature compared to his peers.

Trusted by head coach Nguyen Van Tien to play the central midfield role alongside his senior teammate Ho Khac Ngoc, Ho Sy Sam almost single-handedly shouldered the entire midfield responsibility in the team's defensive duties.

With his enthusiastic and energetic play, and his intelligent and composed approach to each play, Ho Sy Sam was the "silent springboard" that allowed Ho Khac Ngoc to freely showcase his excellent technical skills and tactical vision.

The final match against U17 Dong Thap was a prime example of Ho Sy Sam's crucial role in the U17 SLNA team. After Phung Que was disqualified, the young team from Nghe An had to play with 10 men against 11. Thanks to Ho Sy Sam's relentless and persistent efforts in the attacking line, the U17 SLNA defense held firm against the pressure from U17 Dong Thap.

The 1-0 victory (with a goal by Le Van Cong) against U17 Dong Thap secured U17 SLNA's sixth consecutive championship title in this tournament. In this triumph achieved at Thien Truong Stadium in 2009, most fans remember the goals scored by Nguyen Phung Que, Le Van Cong, Ngo Hoang Thinh, or the outstanding performances of Ho Khac Ngoc, Pham Manh Hung, Le Van Hung... but few recognize the brilliance of central midfielder Ho Sy Sam.

Simply put, the player from Quynh Luu always plays a quiet role, providing a backdrop for his teammates to shine and bring success to the team.

Ho Sy Sam (in white shirt) during a training session with the Vietnamese Olympic team in 2014. (Illustrative photo)

2.Joining the SLNA first team in 2013 under coach Nguyen Huu Thang, Ho Sy Sam often played a supporting role to senior players like Hoang Van Binh, Nguyen Quang Tinh, Ngo Hoang Thinh, and then teammates of the same age like Vo Ngoc Toan, Que Ngoc Hai... in the central midfield position of the Nghe An team.

For nearly four years, the player born in 1993 has rarely received patience or trust from the SLNA coaching staff. The time Ho Sy Sam has spent on the field can be counted on the fingers of one hand; the rest of the time he has been warming the bench.

In the 2016 V. League season, after Tran Dinh Hoang suffered a long-term injury, coach Ngo Quang Truong decided to use Ho Sy Sam to fill the right-back position. Despite his efforts in training and playing, Ho Sy Sam was unable to fulfill his assigned duties because he was playing in a position different from his natural one. Ho Sy Sam's trial at right-back seemed to have ended with coach Nguyen Duc Thang replacing Ngo Quang Truong on the coaching bench.

However, in the times he was brought onto the field, the 24-year-old player rarely played in midfield, instead occupying the right-back position for the Nghe An team. Even in the match against Than Quang Ninh at Cam Pha Stadium in Round 6 of the V. League 2017, Ho Sy Sam had to play in place of Vo Ngoc Duc at left-back. While modern football demands that players adapt to various positions and adhere to the coaching staff's tactics, everything has its downsides.

According to statistics from the beginning of the season until now, Ho Sy Sam has only played in 5 matches (including the match against Dak Lak in the National Cup), equivalent to about 200 minutes on the field. Notably, more than half of that time was in the role of right-back.

Clearly, the lack of playing time and the fact that when he does get to play, he often plays outside his comfort zone is causing Ho Sy Sam's talent to wither.

With Vo Ngoc Toan struggling with injury and veteran Nguyen Van Vinh unable to maintain the fitness to play the full 90 minutes in consecutive matches, the option of using Ho Sy Sam seems worth considering for the SLNA coaching staff.

Thanh Hung