SLNA foreign players eagerly celebrate Vietnamese New Year

(Baonghean.vn) - This year's Lunar New Year is the first time that Song Lam Nghe An's two foreign players, Henry and Olaha, have had the opportunity to learn about the traditional Vietnamese New Year customs and practices.

Returning to Nghe An after the 2-1 victory over Long An on the 26th of Tet, only Henry and Olaha remained at SLNA headquarters. Although the two new recruits of the Nghe An team did not receive a Tet bonus, the club's leadership still provided them with an additional sum of money to rent a hotel to stay and experience the Vietnamese Tet atmosphere outside. Not only that, at the hotel, they were also prepared with banh chung and many candies...

Henry 1: Trinidad & Tobago striker surprisingly leads the list of top scorers in V.League 2017 after 4 rounds. Photo: Trung Kien.

Talking to Nghe An Newspaper reporter, striker Henry Shackiel shared: “I have no intention of returning home at this time, I just hope that V.League matches will return soon, I am very eager. I also have no plans for these holidays, but I definitely want to know how Vietnamese people celebrate their Tet.”

Playing for the first time in V.League and joining a young team like SLNA, the Trinidad & Tobago striker also revealed his thoughts about the people and football environment here, Henry said: “When I was introduced to Vietnam by my home club. I didn’t care which team I would play for. When I stepped into a new environment, I just wanted to gain experience to become a better player and at SLNA I was given that opportunity.

At SLNA, he received special attention from his teammates as well as the coaching staff. Photo: Trung Kien

The team I used to play for in Trinidad & Tobago said that in Vietnam, I would often play and create opportunities. That's true. At first, I had a lot of difficulties because of the weather conditions here, but now everything is fine. The people I have met so far are very friendly and open, but it's difficult to talk to them normally because of the language difference. SLNA players are not very good at using English. What I am most satisfied and happy about is that the coaching staff cares for me, and that I can regularly compete and prove myself in a football environment like this."

After 4 matches, the striker born in 1994 left quite a mark in the Nghe An team's shirt, however, this player set quite modest goals for himself.

“I find the clubs in Vietnam a little more professional than Trinidad & Tobago. Having 4 goals in 4 matches is a very good achievement for any player. But anyway, this is my first time playing in the V.League so my goal is to be one of the top 5 scorers in the 2017 season.

In his spare time, Henry only knows how to watch movies, listen to music and be friends with his Smartphone. He is very eager to get back on the field, and is eager to experience the New Year's Eve atmosphere of Vietnamese Tet. Photo: Trung Kien

Song Lam Nghe An is a club with many talented players, but will be a much more dangerous team if we have more experience. I think in the future, SLNA needs to play according to their own tactics and style until the final whistle, not 80 minutes like last time...", Henry expressed.

The top striker and SLNA's mainstay in attack also revealed that his family and girlfriend always stand behind him and support all his decisions. Therefore, he sets a goal of becoming a prominent player in the V.League in the future. Like many strikers, Henry idolizes L. Messi - the top star of FC Barcelona and the Spanish team is also a club that he especially loves.

Henry Shackiel and his teammates at SLNA will gather on the 4th day of Tet (January 31st). However, he will most likely have to wait until February 12th to be able to compete again because the National Cup series on February 4th is usually only an opportunity for domestic strikers. Especially when the opponent that SLNA has to face is only Dak Lak Club, a representative playing in the First Division.

Trung Kien