Coach Thinh 'the Black' leads SLNA U21 team.

(Baonghean.vn) – With the immediate goal of qualifying for the National U21 Championship Finals, former SLNA first team head coach Nguyen Van Thinh has been entrusted by the Nghe An club's management with leading this generation of players.

This year, SLNA's youth teams have only managed to win one silver medal, courtesy of the U.13 SLNA team. To achieve the goals set by the Provincial People's Committee, the U.21 SLNA team is the last hope of the Nghe An team.

Coach Nguyen Van Thinh. Thinh (nicknamed Thinh "the Black") is one of the most skilled coaches at SLNA Club.

Despite currently coaching the SLNA U14 team, Coach Nguyen Van Thinh has been assigned by the Nghe An club to lead the SLNA U21 team in preparation for the U21 National Championship qualifiers. With his extensive experience in youth development and top-tier expertise at SLNA, the former head coach of the Vietnam U16 team is expected to bring a breakthrough for the SLNA U21 team in this tournament.

The U21 National Championship qualifiers took place from October 3rd to 13th, 2016, with 20 teams divided into 4 groups. U21 SLNA was in Group A along with Thanh Hoa, Viettel, and Hanoi T&T. FLC Thanh Hoa acted as the group leader and played their matches at the Thanh Hoa Provincial Stadium. The qualifying matches for Group A were scheduled for October 7th, 10th, and 13th.

According to experts, the chances of advancing are evenly distributed among the teams. Most of the key players are currently competing in the V-League and the National First Division. Among them, U.21 SLNA also has a significant advantage with 6 players currently playing for the first team: Hoang Van Khanh, Ho Tuan Tai, Nguyen Viet Nguyen, Nguyen Phu Nguyen, Pham Xuan Manh, Phan Van Duc, and midfielder Hoang Vu Dat, who plays for Phu Yen Club in the 2016 First Division. Notably, coach Nguyen Van Thinh has also added outstanding players from the U17 team such as Dang Van Lam, Tran Tien Anh, and Duong Van Cuong.

Xuan Manh and Tuan Tai - the hopes of U21 SLNA - Photo: Internet.

For several days now, the entire SLNA U.21 team has been accommodated at the Huu Nghi Hotel to ensure the best possible preparation before their departure. The qualifying round will select the top four teams (first place) and the three second-place teams with higher points and other indicators from the four groups to compete in the finals alongside the host team, Than Quang Ninh. The finals will take place from October 23rd to November 2nd, 2016, at Cam Pha Stadium, Cam Pha City, Quang Ninh Province.

In this tournament, SLNA holds the national record with 5 championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2012 and 2014.

Trung Kien