Nguyen Cong Phuong's mother: 'It's all thanks to my teammates' efforts'

(Baonghean.vn) - Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa - mother of footballer Nguyen Cong Phuong - could not hide her happiness and pride when answering reporters about Cong Phuong's outstanding performance.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa (Cong Phuong's mother) watched her son play live at Vinh Stadium during the match between SLNA and HAGL. Photo: Dai Nghia

Mrs. Hoa said: “Before the Vietnamese national team played, Phuong called home to invite his parents to Ho Chi Minh City to watch the football match and also visit his children who are working there. But because we have farm work and take care of the pigs, chickens, and cattle back home, I had to ‘give way’ to Mr. Bay (Phuong’s father) and his sister to go watch it in person. I’ve been to the stadium many times before, but Mr. Bay rarely goes. Let him go for fun, because later when he’s older and his health is weaker, he won’t be able to go anywhere, and that would be a shame.”

However, at home, I never miss a single match that the Vietnam U22 team plays. For every match, I brew a pot of tea and invite my neighbors to watch the game to liven things up. To be honest, I don't understand much about football, but watching the kids play so well is such a pleasure. Especially when I see Phượng score, I get incredibly excited; I shout until my throat is hoarse. And in the last three matches, Phượng has scored in all of them. I don't want to see the kind of "mother praising her child's singing" mentality, but scoring goals is always good.

To say he played exceptionally well is incorrect; it's all thanks to his teammates. All of Phuong's teammates played well, it wasn't just Phuong who did. Therefore, if you're going to praise him, praise his teammates like Toan, Truong, Tuan Anh... I think his teammates contributed more to his goals than to creating opportunities for him.

Today he called home to his mother, and all I could do was encourage him to give his all in the competition, listen to the coaches and Coach Huu Thang, and develop his full potential to contribute to the national team, to contribute for the colors of the Vietnamese national team.

I told him that every time he gets to compete, it's an opportunity to learn from the coaches, so he should try to improve his skills so he can serve the team when he returns. I told him he needs to be more proactive to perform well at the SEA Games and win a gold medal for Vietnam. He retorted, "Mom, just wait, I'll play well and score goals."

Dai Nghia