Phan Thanh Van: Professional journey from 'street' player

From dust to dust

I met Mr. Van one afternoon at his cafe on Nguyen Tien Tai Street (Vinh City). He received guests in a suit.footballof the club he plays for, his style is as simple as the way he decorates his cafe. Two large TVs in the cafe are showing a match of the U19 Southeast Asian tournament. Most of them are regular customers who share the same passion for football, many of whom have played football with Mr. Van since nearly 30 years ago - when he was a bareheaded, barefoot 7th grade boy passionately chasing the ball on the dusty ground of the Provincial Labor Culture House football field.

“Everyone in my family loves football, from my father, mother to my two sisters. My father was also a player for the Provincial Team, even though he was just a worker. But because he loved and understood football, my grandparents did not let me follow this path. Having witnessed many negative stories off the field, they were afraid that I would not have the courage to avoid it,” Mr. Van recalled.

So, although many people praised him for being a good soccer player, the boy Van never set foot in any recruiting classes or training centers, only rolling around fighting for the ball with seniors who were dozens of years older than him on the grassroots fields. That was until Van was in 11th grade. One time, when he followed his friends in the neighborhood to recruit at the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Soccer Training Center, Van caught the attention of the teachers and became the only kid in the neighborhood to be accepted.

Mr. Phan Thanh Van in his early years at the Military Region 4 football team. Photo: NVCC

At this point, Mr. Van burst out laughing when recalling his teenage emotions: “Of course I was very happy and surprised, but above all I was worried. Because I knew for sure, my parents would never agree to let me followprofessional footballSo I decided to hide this and secretly go to practice without my parents knowing. For the whole month after that, every afternoon I stuffed my clothes into my bag and lied to my parents that I was going to extra classes. When I got to the center, I changed my clothes and practiced with my teacher and friends. In the evening, after class, I ran out to the yard to play with my teammates until it was dark before I dared to go home. I came home late to avoid my parents noticing my clothes. I stuffed all the clothes I wore during practice under the bed. I waited until the whole family went to bed before taking them out to wash behind the well. It was okay on sunny days, but on rainy days, it was extremely difficult.

This series of secret days repeated for about a month, until Van's parents discovered it. Although the teacher at the Center came to his house to ask for permission, his parents were still determined to send Van to the disciplined environment of the army to train. "I never thought that I would join the army, just like the way my parents insisted that I would never be able to become a football player. But by chance, those two extremes met. After graduating from grade 12, I failed the entrance exam to the Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports. In August 2000, when I didn't know what to do, I saw that the amateur football team of Military Region 4 was recruiting, so I registered and my parents supported me. I reluctantly became a soldier playing football" - Van humorously said.

Although he has played for many teams, the Military Region 4 team is still the team that Mr. Van feels most attached to. Photo: NVCC

After 2 months of playing, the Military Zone 4 amateur football team was promoted to the Third Division. By the end of 2001, the team was promoted from the Third Division to the Second Division. In 2006, the team was promoted to the First Division and by the end of 2008, it was recognized as a professional football team. The joy was short-lived. While he was satisfied and fulfilled with a professional team with a "family" spirit, the players were close-knit and united both on and off the field, at the end of 2009, after the Military Zone 4 team was sold, Mr. Van became a player of Navibank Saigon, in the position of team captain.

The next 5 years were a journey full of… ups and downs for Mr. Van. At the end of 2010, he played for Hoa Phat Ha Noi. In 2011, he was transferred to Ha Noi ACB. In 2013, he returned to play for Dong Nai Football Club. In 2014, he returned to Quang Nam, then in 2015, he went to Saigon to play in the First Division and then retired not long after that. “At that time, I was 34, 35 years old, and my knee was injured. On top of that, at this time, my mother suffered from a serious illness. For more than a year, I went back and forth to treat her.Vinh - Saigon"I worked hard and realized that I spent too little time with my family. I used to hope to stop being a professional to become a teacher or a coach, but then my mother's passing made me realize that I needed to become a good father, a good son, and a good husband in my own family first," Van confided.

Mr. Thanh Van when he was the captain of Navibank Saigon team. Photo: NVCC

Very different experiences

With all their savings, Van and his wife used them to buy a small piece of land and open a football cafe to satisfy their passion and make ends meet. Returning to his family, his friends, his childhood seniors, and the amateur football field, Van found the simple joys that he had missed out on for so long.

Mr. Van's football team has won many high prizes in "amateur" tournaments. Photo: NVCC

From his football career, Mr. Van has very interesting views and perspectives on amateur football and professional football. Accordingly, the former captain of Navibank Saigon said,street footballThere are elements that cannot be found in professional football. “Coming from street football, growing up from amateur tournaments, I really like the “heat” of this amateur football environment. It may lack formality and discipline, but it is an environment for players to express their personality, creativity, and acumen most clearly. At a young age, children who are exposed to and trained in this environment will develop themselves to the fullest when they become professional. On the contrary, if they move from a professional environment to “amateur” football, there will be a certain “retention”, causing players to be limited in their “unique qualities” - Mr. Van said.

Sharing about the "street" club he is playing, Mr. Van proudly said: "The youth team of the past has now become the elders of U50, U60, but everyone is still close and loves each other very much. From "street" football, I have older brothers who always sincerely advise and give advice, younger brothers who are always enthusiastic, lively, and carefree. Recently, when the grassroots football tournaments have gradually become commercialized, focusing on achievements, promoting brands, even abusing the hiring of outside players, we are no longer interested in playing in tournaments. What we like best are still friendly matches just to satisfy our passion with each other."

Thanh Van (striped shirt) gives his all in an amateur match. Photo: Xuan Thuy

Commenting on Mr. Phan Thanh Van, Mr. Nguyen Cong Chat - a regular customer of Mr. Van, also a famous Song Lam Nghe An fan said: "Van plays football well, has talent, passion and determination to succeed, but what I value most about him is his moral character. Because of Van's sincere, straightforward and kind personality, since he opened the shop, I have not gone to any other shop."

Diep Thanh