A complete love for football.

(Baonghean) - For over 10 years, almost all SLNA players and coaches have been familiar with the image of a beautiful female fan who is always present at the Vinh stadium to cheer wholeheartedly whenever SLNA plays. That special female fan is Hai Yen, a girl from Hai Phong who has dedicated her entire love of football to the Nghe An team.

Born in 1987 in Hai Phong, Hai Yen had a strong passion for football from a young age. At 15, she caught the eye of coach Doan Van Son during the Hai Phong U17 tryouts. Every day after school, Hai Yen would regularly cycle more than 30 kilometers to train with her teammates, despite her family's objections. Her love for SLNA football club stemmed from her admiration for Van Quyen, having witnessed his emotional plays during the years 2002-2005. On the SLNA Supporters' Club forum during those years, the nickname Hai Yen Tran became very familiar to many football fans in Nghe An, but not everyone knew that it belonged to a girl from another province.

Hai Yen poses for a photo with coach Nguyen Huu Thang.

After graduating from a vocational school specializing in accounting, Hai Yen decided to go to Nghe An to find work so she could regularly watch the SLNA football team play. At that time, Hai Yen was just 20 years old, with only 400,000 dong and her vocational school diploma. She sought shelter at the home of Thuc Anh, a passionate SLNA fan whom she had befriended through the Nghe An Football Supporters' Association forum. Knowing Hai Yen's circumstances, Thuc Anh discussed with her family and allowed Hai Yen to stay at her house temporarily. In her early days in Vinh City, Hai Yen worked many different jobs just to be able to watch her favorite team play every week. Knowing Hai Yen's story, striker Van Quyen, through his connections, helped Hai Yen get a job as a ticket seller at Van Minh Bus Company.

Hai Yen with her idol Van Quyen.

Despite her passionate love for football, in her everyday life, Hai Yen is a gentle and charming girl. Because of this, many members of the SLNA Supporters' Club and even SLNA players are very fond of her. After some time, she also fell for a handsome young man from Nghe An, who had previously trained with the SLNA youth team. After dating for over three years, they planned to get married.

However, trouble arose when Hai Yen's boyfriend no longer wanted her to have such strong feelings for the SLNA football team. Arguments and disagreements ensued, and they decided to give each other time to think. At this point, Hai Yen had only two choices: either choose her own happiness or her love for SLNA. On the last day, as scheduled, before making her decision, Hai Yen secretly went to Vinh Stadium and sat in a secluded corner of Stand A to watch the SLNA team practice. That same evening, she met her boyfriend and said, "I'm sorry, I can't leave SLNA...", then quietly walked away. Hai Yen confided that it wasn't a hasty or impulsive decision of youth; she had thought about it a lot and has never regretted it.

At 28 years old, Hai Yen remains single and wholeheartedly devoted to the SLNA football team. She always cheers wholeheartedly for the players, whether her beloved team wins or loses. Along with her close friend Thuc Anh, Hai Yen is familiar with the faces of hundreds of SLNA players, from the first team to the youth teams. Her love for SLNA is so strong that even when her hometown team, Hai Phong, plays against SLNA, she always hopes SLNA will win.

Text and photos:PV