Should we learn from Le Cong Vinh?

(Baonghean.vn) - Immediately after being appointed Acting President of Ho Chi Minh City FC, Le Cong Vinh went to the ticket counter at Thong Nhat Stadium to personally sell tickets to fans. This is an unprecedented action in Vietnamese football.

The image of Acting Chairman Le Cong Vinh in the role of a ticket seller has received much praise from the public. The appearance of the former striker from Nghe An province attracted a larger-than-usual crowd to Thong Nhat Stadium in Saigon. In the match between Ho Chi Minh City FC and QNK Quang Nam, an estimated 7,000-8,000 fans attended. It had been a long time since Thong Nhat Stadium had experienced such a lively atmosphere during a V. League match, since the dissolution of Ho Chi Minh City Police, Saigon Port, and Customs.

Even though the referee had blown the final whistle quite some time ago, and even though the home team, Ho Chi Minh City FC, couldn't secure all three points, fans in the city still lingered at the stadium to encourage and support Coach Alain Fiard's team. At this moment, everyone witnessed Acting Chairman Le Cong Vinh and the Ho Chi Minh City FC players running around the field to thank the enthusiastic support of the home crowd. The distance between a star, a club owner, and the fans was erased by Le Cong Vinh's approachable, simple, and wise actions.

Acting Chairman Le Cong Vinh personally sold tickets at Thong Nhat Stadium. Photo: Internet.

For a long time, SLNA has proudly boasted the largest fan base in the country. Many financially powerful teams, such as Hanoi FC (formerly HN. T&T) and Binh Duong FC, have looked at SLNA with envy and admiration. For decades, Vinh Stadium has been known as a "cauldron" due to the intense atmosphere created by the packed stands. The image of fans from Nghe An province having to climb ladders to enter Vinh Stadium to watch their team play has become familiar and commonplace.

However, during the 2016 season, the "Vinh Stadium cauldron" became cold and desolate. In matches where SLNA played at home, the stands only welcomed a few thousand fans. According to statistics, the average attendance for each SLNA match at Vinh Stadium last season was only approximately 3,000 spectators. This is extremely sad, regrettable, and worrying for SLNA. Fans are not only a source of motivation for the players, but also one of the team's sources of income in professional football.

Many factors have led to fans in Nghe An turning their backs on the team, such as declining performance and a lack of ambition in recent seasons. However, an equally important factor is the indifference of the SLNA management towards their supporters. Everywhere, the relationship between fans and the team is always close and reciprocal. To attract fans, the team must demonstrate respect for them, instead of assuming, "I'm the idol, so I have the right to do whatever I want."

It's a clear fact that fans are the most valuable asset of any football team. As coach Henrique Calisto said: "Football without fans is dead football." Therefore, to maintain the existence and development of a team, the position and importance of the fans cannot be ignored. No matter how modern and well-equipped the facilities are, no matter how good the players are or how many titles they win, without the support and sharing of the fans, everything becomes meaningless. Therefore, indifference towards the fans is the foundation for the decline, or even the "disappearance," of the team.

Where have those explosive moments from the stands at Vinh Stadium gone?

In recent years, few clubs have played with the same dedication and won as many titles as Hanoi FC (formerly Hanoi T&T). However, a sad reality is that the Hang Day Stadium consistently suffers from low attendance. To address this issue, owner Do Quang Hien has continuously sought effective solutions for the team. The decision to permanently retire the number 12 jersey, rename HN.T&T to Hanoi FC, along with many ambitious plans, are all strategic moves aimed at bringing the team closer to the capital's fans.

Undeniably, SLNA Club has undertaken many meaningful activities, such as visiting individuals and families in difficult circumstances, or displaying banners of gratitude and appreciation to the fans after each match and tournament. However, that is not enough to strengthen the relationship between the team and its fans. It is necessary to bring the fans closer to the players and the club through simple, heartfelt actions, like what Le Cong Vinh is doing.

Let's break down the wall separating idols and their fans. Only then will more people come to the stadiums because they will feel loved and respected, unlike the long-standing problem of unrequited love.

Images of Le Cong Vinh selling tickets in front of Thong Nhat Stadium or Nguyen Cong Phuong handing out flyers at a subway station in Japan are worth emulating by those who genuinely care about football.

Thanh Hung