Coach Kiatisuk choked up as he talked about his close friend Duong Minh Ninh.

"We have been colleagues for more than 20 years, since we were both players of Hoang Anh Gia Lai. During the time I was a player, Duong Minh Ninh was a striker. Whether he had the opportunity or not, Ninh was never dissatisfied. He supported all his friends, always supported the head coach during that time.

Three years ago I returned to Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Duong Minh Ninh was the Director of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Academy, my assistant, became my beloved brother, an observer of everything on and off the pitch.

We sit, talk and work in front of my room almost every day. On days off or holidays, Minh Ninh invites me to his house or for coffee or to eat. He says he doesn't want me to sit quietly at the headquarters...", coachKiatisuk recalls the more than 20 years he spent with Duong Minh Ninh.

"One day in the first year I came back to work here, Coach Ninh brought me a plum tree and said he knew my wife in Thailand liked to grow cacti. He gave it to me and said, "Take care of it so it feels like you're at home with your wife." I told Minh Ninh that I would take good care of the tree, and when I returned to Thailand, he would take care of it for me.

In the morning, when going out for coffee, wherever coach Ninh is, he always has work on his hands. He likes to take me to beautiful cafes, beautiful flowers, beautiful lotus and talk about football. Coach Ninh is very proud to be one of the coaches of the Vietnam national team. Every time he returns from the national team, Minh Ninh always has a national team uniform for me. When he gets back to the center, he knocks on my door."Kiatisuk recalls.

"In the past, coach Ninh did not drive a car. He liked to drive a motorbike. Then one day we went to buy a car. The first car that coach Ninh liked and was very proud of,"Captain Hoang Anh Gia Lai shared.

Coach Duong Minh Ninh has been with Hoang Anh Gia Lai for more than 20 years, since he was a player. For Kiatisuk, he is not only a teammate and colleague but also a close friend. Images of his friend who has been with him for more than 2 decades make Kiatisuk emotional and choked up...

"Before returning to Thailand during each break, coach Ninh met me and asked if I wanted to bring Vietnamese conical hats back to my friends in Thailand. He got me a conical hat with a traditional Vietnamese strap.

Anh Ninh doesn't sleep at the center with the team because his house is nearby. But he gets up early every morning. He works responsibly every day.

Now, to return to Ham Rong without Duong Minh Ninh, it will be very difficult for me. No one can replace that brother...", coachKiatisuk spoke emotional words about his unfortunate friend./.