The woes of being a "reserve"

(Baonghean) - Throughout the 2014 season and the first seven rounds of the 2015 V.League, Duc Cuong was the only player at SLNA who hadn't played a single minute. Because Nguyen Manh, who plays in the same position, is at the peak of his form, there were virtually no opportunities for the former SHB Da Nang goalkeeper. Having chosen a career in football and playing for his hometown team, having to sit on the bench for the past two years has caused Duc Cuong a lot of mixed emotions...

Duc Cuong when he played for SHB Da Nang. (Image from the internet)

Duc Cuong was born in Ben Thuy ward (Vinh City) into a family with a tradition in sports and arts. He sang well and won many music awards during his school years, but later, Cuong chose sports, applying to the Song Lam football academy. With a height of over 1.80m and excellent reflexes, Duc Cuong was highly regarded from the very beginning of his time with the Nghe An team.

Having achieved great success with the youth teams of Nghe An, but at the time of his development, SLNA already had too many talented goalkeepers. Not wanting to waste his talent, the Nghe An team considered letting Duc Cuong go, giving him more opportunities to play. At that time, football in Nghe An and Da Nang maintained a close relationship, and those involved in Nghe An football were like "teachers," imparting knowledge to their colleagues in Da Nang. Duc Cuong was transferred to the Da Nang team. This was also a way to strengthen and enhance the good relationship between the two teams, SLNA and Da Nang. That's why the price for Da Nang to acquire goalkeeper Duc Cuong was only... 50 million VND. Cuong left feeling abandoned by his hometown team, and it took him a long time to regain his composure. He became the number one goalkeeper for SHB. In Da Nang, Duc Cuong shone in many seasons and proved that the SLNA leadership's decision to let him go was a mistake. His good performances, coupled with the fact that his relationship with singer Bui Le Man became widely known, made him a very popular player.

One chose a career in sports, the other pursued art, and at times, they achieved great success together. For example, Duc Cuong was called up to the national team, and in 2009, Bui Le Man won first prize in the Sao Mai folk music competition. In 2011, when Cuong moved to the capital to compete, they had more opportunities to meet, and rumors circulated that they would get married. However, unexpectedly, they broke up shortly afterward, leaving many disappointed.

After the breakup of his six-year relationship, Duc Cuong's career subsequently faced difficulties. While playing for HP. Hanoi and later Hanoi Football Club, Duc Cuong failed to make much of an impact. There were times when he was benched and disappeared from view. Many thought that after leaving the team owned by Mr. Kien, Duc Cuong would retire, but surprisingly, in preparation for the 2014 season, the former national team goalkeeper returned home and was accepted by SLNA. It was also fortunate for Cuong that with Viet Nam's departure, SLNA lacked a backup goalkeeper for Nguyen Manh, and Duc Cuong was chosen.

Returning to SLNA, Duc Cuong also decided to pursue an important life goal: getting married. In September 2013, the goalkeeper's wedding to his beautiful bride, Hong Hanh, was held grandly in Vinh City, attended by many famous figures in the world of football. Having settled down after many ups and downs, Duc Cuong wanted to dedicate his remaining efforts to SLNA in the final years of his career. He persevered in training and accepted the role of reserve goalkeeper behind Nguyen Manh. Recently, when Nguyen Manh was on duty with the national team, Duc Cuong became the main goalkeeper, contributing significantly to Nghe An's victory in the men's football event at the 2014 National Sports Games.

Despite making some contributions and finding contentment in life, with a happy family, having opened a successful coffee shop that served as a gathering place for teammates, Duc Cuong admitted that deep down, he still carried many mixed feelings. Throughout the 2014 season and the first seven rounds of the 2015 V.League, Duc Cuong did not play a single minute. This was the longest period in his football career without playing time.

As a player, everyone wants to be on the field and contribute, so many people understand Duc Cuong's feelings when he has to sit in the dugout for every match. Duc Cuong's biggest wish right now is to have the opportunity to contribute to his hometown team before officially retiring.

Vinh Liem