Climbing mountains at the beginning of the year.

(Baonghean) - Preparing for the crucial match against HA.GL in round 4, Coach Nguyen Huu Thang and his team had to start training on the second day of Tet (Lunar New Year). Due to travel difficulties, the entire team had to travel by car to Da Nang before flying to Pleiku. It was a long journey in the early days of the new year, but the team remained determined to win as a New Year's gift to their fans.

The defeat against Thanh Hoa in round 3 right in the "cauldron" of Vinh took a heavy toll on Coach Huu Thang and his team. Besides losing the top spot to their rivals, it was also a Lunar New Year that wasn't truly complete, as the whole team was haunted by the match. This was the first time in almost 20 months that SLNA had suffered a defeat at their home ground in Vinh.

The defeat against Thanh Hoa in round 3 put considerable pressure on the players from Nghe An.

Despite having an early Lunar New Year holiday, many players were not in a hurry to return home but continued to train with the foreign players. It wasn't until the 29th day of the Lunar New Year that everyone went home to prepare for the Spring Festival with their families. On the afternoon of the 2nd day of the Lunar New Year, the entire coaching staff and players had to be present at the club's headquarters. After the New Year's greetings from General Director Nguyen Hong Thanh, the whole team went out to train.

Unlike previous years, SLNA used to hold training sessions to mark the start of the season, then allow the players to rest before resuming training after Tet. This year, however, training took place as usual on the afternoon of the second day of Tet, with the coaching staff showing no special treatment or leniency towards the players. Therefore, even during the Tet holidays, the atmosphere of training and daily life at the club was no different from normal days. A member of the SLNA coaching staff explained that the reason for this strict approach is that this year, Round 4 is played right after Tet, while SLNA's opponent is HA.GL, a strong club.

The concerns of SLNA's leadership are not unfounded, because after the loss to Thanh Hoa, the players desperately need a morale boost. Furthermore, as coach Nguyen Huu Thang often jokingly says, Pleiku Stadium is a difficult place to visit, so thorough preparation is essential. In fact, over the past decade or so, SLNA has frequently suffered defeats when traveling to Gia Lai. For example, last season, even while on an impressive winning streak, Huu Thang's team had to play away in Pleiku and lost 1-2. Following this loss, SLNA fell into a crisis with seven consecutive winless matches.

After days of intensive training, on the 6th day of the Lunar New Year, Coach Nguyen Huu Thang and his team traveled to Da Nang by bus before flying to Pleiku. It was a long journey, taking an entire day, so everyone was exhausted. The entire club will set up camp in Pleiku City before their match in Round 4 against the home team HA.GL on February 9th.

Having had a poor start, HA.GL is determined to win, while SLNA travels to the mountainous region with the goal of securing points to forget their defeat against Thanh Hoa in round 3. The Nghe An team has reason to be confident as key players like Dinh Dong and Manh Hung have recovered from injuries and are ready to return to the field. Furthermore, the foreign players have gradually adapted to the environment and the team's playing style, promising to be important attacking threats.

Despite playing away against HA.GL, the players from Nghe An are not alone, as the SLNA Supporters' Club has already planned to cheer on their beloved team. Besides the large number of Nghe An fans living in the Central Highlands, Coach Huu Thang's team will also receive support from hundreds of spectators from Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Just like last year, Pleiku Stadium will surely be covered in the yellow of Nghe An.

Text and photos:Vinh Liem