The people who breathe life into the football fields of Nghe An province.

Path to the lawn

Admirer of commentator Quang Huy, Duong Cong Anh (born in 1984) persistently and diligently pursued his dream of becoming a football commentator. Although he has never set foot in Hanoi, Cong Anh speaks standard Vietnamese very well. He imitates his idol in everything from vocabulary and pronunciation to intonation and connections. Cong Anh often mutes the TV when watching football so he can comment on the game himself for his family to hear, and eagerly volunteers to comment on other matches.football matchlocally.

Commentator Duong Cong Anh provides commentary for a match at the 2022 Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament. Photo: Diep Thanh

After graduating from high school, Cong Anh took the entrance exam for a television vocational school, following his teacher's guidance, and applied for a commentator position at VTV Cab under the mentorship of a senior professional.

At the end of 2002, the small, slender young man, dwarfed by his borrowed suit, beat hundreds of applicants to become an official commentator for VTV Cab. Cong Anh began a period of complete dedication to his passion, pouring his heart and soul into emotionally charged football matches. International football tournaments mainly took place in the evenings according to Vietnamese time, so Cong Anh still went to school during the day and worked at night. Top European football leagues often started at 6 PM and lasted until 4 AM... there were nights when Cong Anh commented on six consecutive matches. In 2010, after K+ was established, VTV Cab stopped broadcasting live football, and Duong Cong Anh transferred to another department. Disheartened and missing his job, in his free time, Cong Anh would often go to football stadiums to offer free commentary to satisfy his longing. That was also how Cong Anh connected with the football leagues of his homeland.

My dream is to become a commentator.footballThe passion for football, kindled in Phan Đình Hiệp (born in 1990), a boy from Thanh Chương, began very early. His childhood was filled with football matches on television, on the school grounds, in the fields, and in his imagination. He would "narrate" the exciting and captivating events of these imaginary matches daily, while tending buffaloes or on his way to school. He dreamed of growing up to be a colleague of his idol – football commentator Quang Huy.

Commentator Phan Đình Hiệp works simply at the football stadium. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

In sixth grade, on a whim, Hiep boldly commented on a match in his local league and received enthusiastic support from all the spectators. The role of "commentator" stuck with Hiep from then on. His years living and studying in Hanoi helped him hone his ability to speak standard Vietnamese fluently and accurately. Returning to Vinh at a time when amateur football was booming, Hiep became a familiar face at amateur football tournaments in Nghe An.

Having entered the profession when opportunities were scarce, the working conditions of these amateur commentators were often very challenging.boundary lineWith just simple equipment—a microphone, a speaker—and a lot of enthusiasm, he brought an umbrella when it rained and a hat when it was sunny. He was always lightly dressed, exuberantly igniting the spirit of the players and drawing the audience to the stadium.

From a "side hustle" to a professional dream.

For a long time, due to its seasonal nature and low income, football commentary has only been a "side job" for Cong Anh and Hoang Hiep. Both are employees of private companies. Although it's considered a "side job," the passion these two commentators have for this work is admirable. During each season, they work hard to make time for their passion. They always take to the field with enthusiasm and dedicate themselves seriously to the matches.

According to Duong Cong Anh, because the income from being a commentator is not high, those who work in this profession need a lot of passion to pursue it. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

To become a football commentator, the first requirement is passion and knowledge of the sport. Their minds must always be full of information about leagues, players, tactics, and so on.

Cong Anh shared: “To speak well, you need to know a lot. Besides regularly updating football information through newspapers and television, you also have to seek information from real-life experiences. I always take every opportunity to interact and chat with players from different football teams. Only by understanding them can you talk about them, and only with a lot of knowledge can you portray them effectively.comments section"It makes the commentary more engaging." Indeed, interweaving "off-field" information makes the commentary more appealing, and the match more interesting as a result.

Voice is the unique "identity" of each football commentator. While Cong Anh is blessed with a distinctive deep voice, Hoang Hiep possesses a clear, resonant voice. Besides requiring clear pronunciation, commentators need to know how to "nurture" their voice with emotion and protect their throats. Hiep often uses special lozenges with a refreshing taste, while Cong Anh usually drinks lemon and salt water or monk fruit juice.

Quick reflexes and sharp eyesight are also indispensable requirements for commentators. Exciting situations on the field often unfold very quickly, demanding instantaneous communication at that very moment. If a commentator doesn't know a player's name, they only have a split second to simultaneously comment on the match's progress and glance at the player list. Therefore, quick thinking and a good memory are a huge advantage for commentators.

From an amateur, Phan Đình Hiệp is gradually pursuing a career as a professional commentator. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

While Cong Anh pursues a polished and serious commentary style, Hoang Hiep's humor and youthful energy are a unique and appealing trait. Many times, Hiep has won over the audience with his witty comparisons and analogies. “Because the players and the audience are listening directly to the commentary, all praise and criticism from the commentators must always be accompanied by respect and moderation, without hurting anyone. Knowing the nicknames and characteristics of each player, having a thorough understanding and close relationship with the teams… also contributes to professionalism. The praise and acceptance from the audience are the motivation for us to continue pursuing our passion,” Hoang Hiep revealed.

In recent years, with the rise of livestreaming and the popularity of sports, commentators have had more opportunities. At many tournaments, instead of standing on the sidelines, they sit separately with the technical and media teams, watching the match primarily through screens with unlimited online reach. Thanks to this, both of them have had more opportunities to develop their passion and work as professional commentators.