From top student to "leader" of SLNA U17 team.

(Baonghean) - Having been awarded the "Excellent Student, Excellent Football Player" award at the 2006 Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament, in 2012 Hoang Vu Dat became the captain of the SLNA U17 team, winning the National U17 Championship and then the gold medal at the 2012 Phu Dong Sports Festival.

Recently, during a visit to my hometown, I saw a boy with a familiar face helping his parents sell goods. Upon asking, I learned that he was Hoang Vu Dat – the captain of the SLNA U17 team and the reigning U17 National Champion. Dat explained that after the 2012 U17 National Championship, his teammates were given a break, while he was assigned to the Nghe An Provincial High School football team to participate in the 2012 Phu Dong Sports Festival in Can Tho. Having spent months training and competing non-stop without visiting his parents, he took advantage of his few days of "reward" after winning the gold medal at the Phu Dong Sports Festival and immediately took a bus home.

Hoang Vu Dat (in yellow shirt) played outstandingly at the National U17 Championship Finals.

At a small stall in Block 1, Yen Thanh Town, Mr. Hoang Vu Quyen - Dat's father - excitedly recounted: "When Dat wanted to join the SLNA academy, I strongly objected because he was a top student in the district and yet he wanted to pursue a career in football. But now I feel somewhat relieved that he has achieved some initial success." He then showed us the gold medal from the U17 National Championship and the gold medal from the 2012 Phu Dong Sports Festival hanging next to a photo of Dat wearing the captain's armband for the U17 SLNA team, holding up the championship trophy. He told us that in 2006, while still a top student in the district, Dat captained the Yen Thanh Children's Football Team in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament. That season, with his mature playing style, Dat and the young players from the rice-growing region achieved spectacular victories and became the "dark horse" of the tournament, reaching the final. Because of Dat's outstanding performance, the SLNA coaches sent a letter to his family. "My family invited Dat to attend the SLNA academy's talent class, and he was very happy, but I wanted him to pursue an academic career. It took a year, and only after much pleading from my son, did I agree to let him pack his bags and go to Vinh," he said.

Joining the SLNA academy at the end of 2007, just one year later, Dat was immediately included in the starting lineup of the SLNA U13 team by coach Pham Anh Tuan to participate in the National U13 Championship, and in 2009 in the National U15 Championship. Having the opportunity to compete in major tournaments, Dat quickly demonstrated the qualities of a leader on the field. In the 2012 season, thanks to his sharp tactical vision and ability to control the game, Dat was given the captain's armband by coach Quang Truong. And Dat did not disappoint the young coach, delivering an impressive performance and leading the SLNA U17 team to the final, where they achieved a resounding 7-2 victory against DTLA to reclaim the championship title.

Coach Quang Truong said about his "favorite" player: "Compared to his peers, Dat has always shown himself to be a 'leader' both in daily life and on the football field. That's why I have great confidence in giving him the captain's armband. In the final match, when DTLA scored first, I was afraid the players would 'freeze,' but with his enthusiastic playing style, Dat scored a goal and inspired his teammates to regain confidence and make a spectacular comeback."

We wish Dat will soon achieve his dream of becoming a professional player and a football star.

Duc Chuyen