The paradox of 'more players than home team'

(Baonghean.vn) - For many years now, SLNA has faced a paradox: when playing away, the number of fans is greater than when playing at home.

According to statistics from the V-League 2017 organizing committee, SLNA played 8 home matches in the V-League 2017, with a total attendance of 39,500 people, averaging over 4,900 people per match. The three matches at Vinh Stadium had the highest attendance figures: against SHB Da Nang (7,000 people), B. Binh Duong (7,000 people), and HAGL (8,000 people). Quite a few matches at Vinh Stadium only attracted around 2,000 spectators, and even the first leg of the National Cup quarter-final against Ho Chi Minh City had only 500 people.

The "fiery cauldron of Vinh" is gradually cooling down and shows no signs of returning to its golden age.

Over 10,000 SLNA fans were present at Thong Nhat Stadium. Photo: Internet

Surprisingly, upon leaving Vinh Stadium, especially heading south, they are met with enthusiastic support from the Nghe An community. In their three away matches against Southern teams – Saigon FC, Long An FC, and Ho Chi Minh City FC – the attendance figures were 10,000, 3,000, and 15,000 respectively; averaging over 9,300 people per match.

Particularly in round 16, over 10,000 fans from Nghe An province flocked to Thong Nhat Stadium, turning the Ho Chi Minh City - SLNA match into the focal point of the V-League and a festival for Nghe An fans in the South. What created this paradox?

Organizational imprint

Apart from the fact that CEO Ho Van Chiem issued an A4-sized decision regarding the organization of the SLNA Supporters' Club under the SLNA Club (?!), the team's role in relation to the Supporters' Club is virtually nonexistent. Especially when the Chairman of the SLNA Supporters' Club, Tran Huu Thuat, moved to live and work in Quang Nam, the connection between the Supporters' Club and the Club became almost completely blurred.

This leads to a paradox: the SLNA Supporters' Club in Vinh, where the team is based, is less active than those in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. This is partly due to a lack of funding and partly due to the absence of a reputable and experienced leader to organize the movement.

When the team performs poorly at Vinh Stadium, where the home crowd's support is crucial, the stands are instead almost empty. The movement formed spontaneously; key members would use social media to call on people to come to the stadium when they had free time, and if they were busy, they simply didn't.

In Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, especially Da Nang, the fan movement is quite consistent thanks to the support of benefactors and hometown associations. Beyond attending matches, the fan clubs also organize football tournaments and social activities that connect the community.

If we consider only the fan support activities at the stadium, the Ho Chi Minh City area is doing very well. Every time SLNA plays, it's truly a festival for the community with many diverse forms of support.

What can be done to make Vinh Stadium more vibrant?

Bac A has committed to disbursing 400 million VND per year for fan support activities, with the first 40 million VND currently being processed for the SLNA Supporters Club in the South. It is understood that funding will also be provided to the Hanoi and Da Nang areas after further discussions with Bac A. Any procedural obstacles between the sponsor and the regional supporters clubs will be resolved soon.

Fans from Nghe An province, specifically from the Vinh area, traveled all the way to Thanh Hoa to support their team. (Photo: Internet)

According to the schedule, SLNA still has 5 V-League matches at Vinh Stadium, not to mention the National Cup. The SLNA players are eager to play in the passionate atmosphere of the Vinh Stadium stands. A large crowd will undoubtedly motivate the players, leading to better results – a fact that has been proven in practice.

Who will take the lead in this? Will they wait for SLNA to perform better and for fans to flock to the stadium on their own, or will they proactively encourage loyal fans to come? Nguyen Thanh Chuong, a familiar face from the Vinh Supporters' Club, said: "If it's reorganized and we receive financial support from sponsors, we can absolutely revive the atmosphere at Vinh Stadium like it used to be."

However, while funding is available, there's no clear recipient for the funds, a reality that donors are unable to resolve.

Clearly, the fans' love for their hometown team is "like the Lam River, never-ending," but it's time for the club, sponsors, and the Supporters' Association to sit down together. If necessary, they should even organize a general assembly to collectively reform and develop the Supporters' Association, creating a place for fans to gather and participate!

N@T