Extending the love through the ball.
Sports are for improving health, socializing, learning, and connecting. That's also why so many football matches are played with the spirit of: Victory belongs to everyone.
A football match of "firsts"
Recently, the second CPFAV Cup was held in Cua Lo ward, with the participation of four provinces and cities: Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Ha Tinh, and Nghe An. It brought together the "superhero family"—as people often say about families with children with cerebral palsy, these football matches are also more special with many rare images."
It was the first time many children with cerebral palsy had stepped into a space they had previously only seen on television. It was the first time many mothers had sat in the stands, cheering on their husbands. And it was also the first time many fathers had donned jerseys, running with all their might for a victory unrelated to their livelihood…
“There were many tears of joy at the event. Even now, a week after the event ended, the mothers are still talking to each other about the lingering feeling of happiness,” shared Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Vice President of CPFAV in charge of the Central and Central Highlands regions, and also the Head of the Family of Children and People with Cerebral Palsy Association of Nghe An.
A football match – that sounds normal to most of us. But for families with children suffering from cerebral palsy, it's almost a luxury. Their lives are already divided by rehabilitation schedules, doctor's appointments, sudden seizures, spoon-fed meals, sleepless nights, and ever-present financial burdens…
Long trips are rare, let alone festivals or tournaments. The CPFAV Cup friendly football tournament, held at the end of June, therefore held more significance than just a sporting event. The four teams competed not to find the strongest team, but to allow fathers who share similar fates to meet, laugh together, and realize that they are not alone.
Sharing her thoughts on establishing the football tournament, Ms. Dinh Lan Anh, the founding president of the Vietnam Association of Families of Children and People with Cerebral Palsy, said: “For many years, the community of families of children and people with cerebral palsy in Vietnam has mainly been associated with mothers. They are the ones who directly care for their children, take them to training, hospitals, and schools, and also connect community activities. Fathers, due to the burden of earning a living, often quietly stand behind. Therefore, the tournament was created with the aim of bringing fathers into the picture. When fathers have their own playground, they meet more often, understand each other better, share more with each other, and then delve deeper into the journey of accompanying their children.”
This year's tournament brought together over 50 families from various provinces and cities. Nearly 200 million VND was contributed by generous donors. After the matches, the "super families" also had the opportunity to visit President Ho Chi Minh's hometown, swim at Cua Lo beach, and enjoy a truly relaxing vacation after many years of being confined to home and the hospital.
Directly participating in and supporting the tournament, Mr. Nguyen Hai Thanh - Chairman of the Association for the Protection of Children's Rights and Support of People with Disabilities in Nghe An province - emotionally shared: “It was a tournament that brought many tears, many smiles, and transmitted the most powerful energy I have ever witnessed. Standing on the sidelines watching the matches, I was deeply moved and full of admiration. The tournament is a strong affirmation of the joy of life, a moment when superhero parents step out of their heavy daily worries to give each other strength. Thank you for not giving up, for becoming the legs, arms, and the whole sky of happiness for your children.”
In sports, the trophy always belongs to one team. But in this tournament, all 50 families from four provinces and cities returned home with the joy of victory.
Love around the round ball
With a spirit of connection and sharing, many football clubs in Nghe An province have persistently organized charity tournaments, bringing joy and encouragement to disadvantaged people.
During the recent fundraising football match "Connecting Love," organized by Quynh Luu General Hospital in collaboration with the Ho Family Football Club of Quynh Luu, the most touching highlight was the auction of a signed Vietnamese National Team jersey, donated by national team players Do Duy Manh and Pham Xuan Manh. After a lively bidding process, the jersey was purchased by Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thao (Quynh Tan commune) for 45 million VND.
Sharing his joy, Mr. Thao said: “This is the first time I’ve participated in such a meaningful and special sporting event. I was very moved to join everyone in the post-match auction. Each time the price increased, it represented another act of generosity towards charity. I am ready to participate in the auction again, raising the value of the shirt even higher, if people continue to bid.”
With mixed feelings of excitement and emotion, Mr. Le Van Hoan, Director of Quynh Luu General Hospital, said: “After the program, the total amount of money raised by the Connecting Love Fund has reached over 200 million VND. This money will be given to patients in difficult circumstances at the hospital.”
Established in September 2023, the members of the Ho Family Football Club in Quynh Luu came together out of a passion for football, but what keeps them together is the bond of kinship and a desire to do something useful for their homeland. From a sports playground, the club has gradually become a place connecting charitable hearts. Through football matches, the club has provided assistance to poor students, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and families receiving government support; supported the construction of houses for needy households; and solicited essential gifts for people in flood-affected areas…
Persistently organizing numerous charity football tournaments to share with poor and disadvantaged families for the past six years, FC40 Nghia Thuan Club has transformed grassroots football into a journey of love and connection. Sharing about this meaningful journey, Mr. Nguyen Tri Huong - President of FC40 Nghia Thuan - confided: "We believe that a football match is only truly meaningful when, after the final whistle, more people are helped. Football may end after 90 minutes, but love needs to be extended."
That is also the general spirit of thosefootball leagueVolunteer work is being maintained in Nghe An.
