Nam Dinh plays play-off, the mark of "captain" Nguyen Van Sy

V-League 2018 will always remember the military leaders Chu Dinh Nghiem, 2 coaches named Duc Thang of FLC Thanh Hoa, SLNA and finally "captain" Nguyen Van Sy. 3 years ago, after parting ways with XSKT Can Tho, Coach Van Sy ignored many lucrative invitations to return to coach Nam Dinh, who were struggling in the National First Division at that time.

Worthy of a senior

Since then, coach Nguyen Van Sy has not had a single day of peace. Nam Dinh's "unexpected" promotion to V-League 2018 left them financially unprepared, leading to a series of other difficulties. At the opening of the season, Nam Dinh immediately faced the fear of relegation due to lack of money, poor foreign players, and a thin squad.

Van Sy is one of the 4 most impressive coaches in V-League 2018. Photo: Internet

Their 26 rounds were all 26 finals, surrounded by terrible pressure, it was not until round 7 that they surprisingly got their first 3 points at Vinh Stadium. From round 3 to round 14, they were continuously pushed down to 114th place in the rankings, far behind XSKT.Can Tho - the direct relegation opponent this season.

There was a time when Nam Dinh players were owed several months of salary and bonus by the team. In such difficult times, this former player born in 1971 always stood by, encouraged and supported the players. Occasionally, Van Sy still found a way to give some money to the players to help them solve their immediate financial needs; other times, he encouraged his colleagues who were facing pressure in their careers. Van Sy always confided in his students, giving them confidence and enthusiasm to face and overcome difficulties.

He told his juniors: “If the money is slow, you guys keep playing. Even if the team is relegated, your ability, level, and courage will be recognized, you will have the opportunity to join another team, if you give up, you will lose everything”. Listening to him, none of the Nam Dinh players lost their spirit, none of them left the team, they respected the enthusiasm and dedication of “captain” Nguyen Van Sy.

On the contrary, in the "boiling water, burning fire" situation, he still firmly decided to cut foreign player Romario, who refused to join the team, accepting to play the play-off with only 1 foreign player Pereira.

In fact, the people of Thanh Nam must acknowledge the fight to the end of the "favorite" players on the Thanh Hoa and Hai Phong fields to regain 2 valuable points in the final minutes, gaining an advantage when coming to Can Tho field to "play the reverse final".

Choose rice, pick fish sauce

Nam Dinh is a team that does not have many high-class players. Foreign player Pereira is only at the level of being aggressive and enthusiastic, the number of only 7 goals speaks for itself. Domestic players only have a few players like Sy Minh, Huu Quy, Viet Tu who can reach the V-League level. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that this season, Nam Dinh plays with spirit. More than anyone, Coach Van Sy is the one who ignites the players throughout the season.

Nam Dinh players "sent" XSKT Can Tho down to the First Division. Photo. Internet

Even in the "reverse final", coach Van Sy said that the only correct move by the home team Can Tho was to pass the ball to Patiyo, and Wander Luiz to fight in the air. So even when they lost early from a corner kick on the right wing, Wander Luiz of XSKT Can Tho jumped high to head the ball, eliminating the defense and goalkeeper Quoc Thien Esele, the Nam Dinh players were still not shaken.

They knew how to exploit the slowness of Hoang Vissai and scored an equalizer, so XSKT Can Tho officially said goodbye to V-League. Meanwhile, Nam Dinh was lucky to win the right to play in the play-off.

However, if Nam Dinh successfully stays in the V-League, it will be difficult for them to survive in the current "hand-to-mouth" style. The V-League is not for teams from "poor families". However, to survive until now is the effort of the entire coaching staff and players of Nam Dinh, in which Van Sy is a name that audiences in Thanh Nam always recognize.