Striker Dinh Bao: 'King of youth tournaments' and tears of happiness

(Baonghean) - For many years playing for SLNA, Dinh Bao waited with bated breath for a goal of his own in the V.League but that dream did not come true. However, when on the "other side of the front line", Bao returned with his "killer" ability. Recently, in the match at Vinh Stadium against his hometown team, Dinh Bao "punished" the SLNA defense with the decisive goal, bringing victory to the team from the port city.

In the 87th minute of the 22nd round match of V.League 2017 at Vinh Stadium between SLNA and Hai Phong, Dinh Bao fired a shot from about 25m that left Nguyen Manh helpless. 3 - 2 and 3 points for the team from the port city. Bao only raised his hand, not daring to celebrate, because with Vinh Stadium, this striker has too many memories.

For many years, he longed to score a goal for SLNA so that he could run around the field to celebrate but could not. But now, although his feelings did not allow him to do so, that goal still made Bao feel happy; because he was more or less recognized at Vinh Stadium.

Dinh Bao scored the decisive goal, helping Hai Phong beat SLNA 3-2. Photo: Internet

After 4 years of not being able to score a single goal for SLNA in the professional arena, in his first season playing for Hai Phong (V.League 2016), this striker scored 10 goals. The revival in the shirt of the port city team helped Bao regain a lot of confidence. Continuing to show good form in the 2017 season, Dinh Bao became an important "card" of coach Truong Viet Hoang. The proof is the classy goal he scored at Vinh Stadium on October 20.

Dinh Bao joined Song Lam in 2004, when he was only 12 years old. When mentioning this striker, people will immediately think of the nickname "king of youth tournaments". That is because in the history of U.17, U.19 or U.21 national teams, Dinh Bao has always been a name that leaves a special mark, with the acquisition of many individual titles.

In 2008, Bao won the double title of “Best Player” and “Top Scorer” when participating in the National U.17 Finals. In 2011, when participating in the National U.21 Finals with U.21 SLNA, this striker from Nghe An continued to be the “Top Scorer”. A year later in Ninh Thuan, people could not forget the shining performance of this striker, helping U.21 SLNA win the championship after 10 years. Dinh Bao was once called up to U.19, U.21 Vietnam to participate in many different big and small tournaments.

Being promoted to the first team since 2012 and given many opportunities, but when taking on the responsibility, Dinh Bao could not do it and had time, Bao was loaned by his home team to HN.ACB and later to XSKT.Can Tho. In the 2014 and 2015 seasons, due to buying low-quality foreign players, SLNA created opportunities for many domestic strikers, including Dinh Bao, but this striker still could not shine as expected. Many juniors such as Phuc Tinh and Tuan Tai were promoted to the first team and scored their own goals, but for Dinh Bao, after 4 years playing in the V.League, he still could not score a single goal.

At the end of the 2015 season, Dinh Bao still had 1 year left on his contract with SLNA, but realizing that it would be difficult for him to compete for a position, Bao proactively asked to leave. The next destination for this striker from Thanh Chuong district was Hai Phong, a team that really liked Nghe An's style. Like a "fish in water", Dinh Bao immediately made an impression at the FLC Open Training Tournament with Hai Phong.

Striker Nguyen Dinh Bao (red shirt) in the match against SLNA in round 22.

Throughout the 2016 V.League season, although Hai Phong’s attack consisted of two excellent strikers, Fagan and Steven, not to mention the “domestic killer” Le Van Thang; Dinh Bao still performed well in his role. Initially, he only came on the bench, but the more he played, the more Dinh Bao showed his superior ability and he gradually pushed Steven to the bench. At the end of the season, Bao had 10 goals, a number that any domestic player would dream of.

Continuing that progress, Dinh Bao was regularly used by the Hai Phong team in the 2017 season. Although not as impressive as his first year with Hai Phong, Bao is still an important factor for the team at Lach Tray Stadium.

In round 22 of V.Laegue 2017, Hai Phong played as a guest of SLNA and Dinh Bao was allowed to play. There were many emotions when facing his old team, but Bao put aside his feelings to play extremely rationally. After the decisive goal, Bao just raised his hand, as if to say sorry to his old teammates. However, Bao must have felt very happy in his heart because he was recognized at Vinh Stadium, where for 4 consecutive years, he could not score a goal in the highest level of Vietnam.

Vinh Liem