With Nguyen Manh absent, SLNA unveils a 'mystery player'.

(Baonghean.vn) - Officially joining SLNA's first team in 2015, but it wasn't until the upcoming match against Dong Thap, when Nguyen Manh is absent due to a suspension, that Le Van Hung had the opportunity to make his first start in the V.League.

Along with other players born in 1992 such as Ngo Hoang Thinh, Tran Phi Son, Ho Khac Ngoc, and Le Van Hung, this promising goalkeeper is still not widely known at SLNA. The excellence of his senior teammates, Nguyen Manh, has prevented this promising goalkeeper from ever shining.

Caption: Goalkeeper Le Van Hung (in black shirt) is ready to start his first V.League match.

Born into a family with no one pursuing a career in sports, Van Hung was coincidentally selected by his teacher to join the school's football team, and later the Nghia Dan district team participating in the Nghe An Newspaper Youth Football Tournament. SLNA scouts easily recognized the boy's goalkeeping potential, and Le Van Hung officially joined the SLNA academy at the young age of 12. This was also the time when his family was struggling due to the sudden death of his father. But overcoming all obstacles, Le Van Hung proved himself worthy of the expectations of his mother, family, and coaches.

Those interested in youth football will surely remember Le Van Hung as the goalkeeper who saved a penalty in the 2007 U17 National Championship final against SHB Da Nang at Thong Nhat Stadium, helping his team successfully defend their title for the fourth consecutive time. Before joining the first team, the goalkeeper from Nghia Dan made significant contributions to the team's achievements, including three silver medals in the U19 National Championship, two championships with U21 SLNA, and one runner-up finish.

Le Van Hung (in red shirt) trains with his senior teammate Nguyen Manh.

After more than two years training with the SLNA first team, Lê Văn Hùng has finally had the opportunity to fulfill his dream of standing in goal for SLNA and playing in the V.League. Speaking to us, Lê Văn Hùng shared: “Actually, my childhood dream was to become a police officer, not a goalkeeper. But now that the first opportunities have come, I will definitely try my best.”

The goalkeeper position always demands hard work and perseverance. At SLNA, Nguyen Manh's shadow is too big, and just one moment of discouragement could mean losing the dream. Coaches who previously mentored Le Van Hung revealed that, with his strong mentality, light physique (63 kg), and good height, Hung's career will surely go far…

Trung Kien