The teacher of the champions of the 25th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children Football Tournament

Passion for youth football

Born in 1991 in Cau Giat town, after graduating from high school, with a passion for sports, coach Duong Vu Phong studied Sports Training at Bac Ninh University of Physical Education and Sports.

In 2013, after graduating from university, with the adventurous mentality of youth, Duong Vu Phong stayed in Hanoi, doing many different jobs, such as being a coach in private sports classes, being a referee in grassroots sports tournaments or participating in "street" football tournaments...

In the first match of the group stage, Quynh Luu Youth Team (blue shirt) had a resounding victory over Que Phong Youth Team. Photo: Duc Anh

In early 2016, after determining that he could not stay in the capital because he could not find a stable job, Duong Vu Phong returned to his hometown Quynh Luu, submitted his application to work at the District Sports Center (now the District Culture - Sports and Communication Center). And he was accepted, holding the role of professional officer in charge of the District Sports Center.

A few months after working at the Sports Center, Duong Vu Phong was able to participate.Youth and Children's Football Tournament - Nghe An Newspaper CupFor the first time, as an assistant coach in both the Youth and Children's teams. In that 20th season, both teams of Quynh Luu district competed successfully, with the Championship for the Youth Team and the Third Prize for the Children's Team. Witnessing the eagerness, carefreeness, and enthusiastic competition of the young players and the excitement and bustle of the fans, Duong Vu Phong felt very fond of and determined to stick with children's football.

“When I was young, I also joined the Cau Giat town football team to compete in district-level tournaments. However, due to injury, I was not selected to join the district team to participate in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament. Therefore, I wish to contribute to the development of youth football in my district, and at the same time, help the Quynh Luu district football teams make their mark at the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament as a coach,” Duong Vu Phong shared.

Defeating Hung Nguyen Youth Team in the second round, Quynh Luu Youth Team quickly won a ticket to the semi-finals. Photo: Duc Anh

After more than 1 year working at the District Sports Center, in 2017, Duong Vu Phong was entrusted with the task of head coach of Quynh Luu Children's Football Team participating in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament. In 3 seasons, from 2017 - 2019, Quynh Luu Children's Football Team all passed the group stage, in which, in the 2018 season, they won third place.

After 2 years of interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, from the 2022 season of the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children's Football Tournament, Duong Vu Phong switched to leading the Quynh Luu Youth team and contributed to helping the district team win the Third Prize in 2022 and especially the Championship in 2023.

In the final match of the group stage, Quynh Luu Youth Team won against Hoang Mai Town Youth Team and topped group B. Photo: Duc Anh

In addition to coaching the Quynh Luu district football teams competing in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament, Duong Vu Phong is also the officer in charge of the amateur gifted class of the Song Lam Nghe An Club in the district since 2017. Every year, this gifted class introduces 1-3 players to the youth teams of the Song Lam Nghe An Club such as Ho Sy Duong, Nguyen Sy Nam Phong, Ho Ngoc Hung, Nguyen Van Hai... In 2023, the Quynh Luu Youth Team has 4 players selected by the Song Lam Nghe An Club: Nguyen Dinh Thuong, Nguyen Minh Phu, Tran Tien Dat and Dang Van Truong.

"Pass on" the love of football

Sharing about the advantages and difficulties in the process of working on children's football in Quynh Luu district, Duong Vu Phong said: "The football movement in Quynh Luu is very widespread; there are always many children who are talented in playing football. That is also an advantage, but it also makes the staff and coaches at the District Culture - Sports and Communication Center worry about how not to miss out on the football talents of the district.

For me personally, besides selecting players in the traditional way such as announcing on mass media for players to come to Cau Giat town to participate in selection courses, I also go directly to schools, coordinate with physical education teachers to watch the children demonstrate their abilities. After "choosing" satisfactory players, I also go directly to their families to propose and persuade parents to create conditions for them to go to town to practice.

Coach Duong Vu Phong

Coach Duong Vu Phong celebrates victory with his students in the youth final of the 2023 Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament. Photo: Duc Anh

One special thing is that in addition to the quota of 20 players that Song Lam Nghe An Club set for the amateur football talent class of Quynh Luu district (funded by the club), Duong Vu Phong also trained 20 other young players for free.

“The balls and other training equipment were provided by Song Lam Nghe An Club; parents pay for their own clothes, shoes, socks, and drinking water; I do not charge any fees for the rest of the training. The reason I expanded the training to the amateur gifted class is to want more children with football talent to have access to systematic training methods, thereby further developing their abilities, contributing to the development of the youth football movement in the district. Witnessing the children laughing and satisfying their passion on the football field is a great happiness for me. In addition to guiding and teaching, I always want to inspire the passion for football in the children,” coach Duong Vu Phong confided.

Coach Duong Vu Phong and Quynh Luu football fans rejoiced when their team reached the final. Photo: Duc Anh

For coach Duong Vu Phong, every time he trains amateur gifted classes or coaches the district's football teams to participate in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children's Football Tournament, the young players in the team must be united like a family member. Therefore, there are times when he is very strict, but there are times when he is close and friendly like a father to the children to guide and "pass on" the love of football to his students. Every time the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children's Football Tournament takes place, he is both a coach and a "nanny" taking care of the children in every aspect.

Up to now, parents and football-loving children in Quynh Luu district have become familiar with the image of Mr. Phong in the role of a dedicated teacher and an enthusiastic coach. "The messages and thank-you posts from a football team or a parent via phone, Zalo, Facebook are something I always cherish and keep. That is the reward and motivation for me to continue to focus on my expertise for the district's Culture - Sports and Communication Center in the future, continue to look for partners to nurture and develop young football talents in the district and reap more success", coach Duong Vu Phong confided.

Winning all matches, Quynh Luu Youth Team convincingly won the 25th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Championship in 2023. Photo: Duc Anh

Besides working on developing children's football, as a sports officer of the District Culture - Sports and Communication Center, Duong Vu Phong also participates in organizing sports tournaments in the area and is the head of delegations participating in provincial sports tournaments.

Leaders of Nghe An province, the Organizing Committee and sponsors presented the Gold Cup to the Quynh Luu Youth Team. Photo: Duc Anh

Mr. Nguyen Van Ky - Director of the District Center for Culture - Sports and Communication said: "In any position, Mr. Duong Vu Phong has shown the enthusiasm of a young cadre for the development of the district's sports and physical training movement. Especially, for the development of children's football, Mr. Phong always strives to find the best training method to promote the hidden talent in each young player. Not only does he love his job and take responsibility for the assigned work, he is also a person who always cares for and supports everyone in the unit, and is loved by his colleagues"./.