Que Phong team will strive to leave many impressions at the 2023 Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament

Despite the hot weather, with passion, the young athletes of the Que Phong Youth and Children's team are still enthusiastically on the training ground these days. Coach Nguyen Van Sau said: ParticipatingThe 25th Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament 2023, Que Phong has a Youth Football Team of 14 players and a Children's Football Team of 12 players. Most of the children are from remote communes, 15-30km from the training ground in town such as Dong Van, Quang Phong communes... But because of their passion, their families and the children have not been afraid of the difficulties in traveling, and have stayed at the houses of acquaintances in town to be able to gather with the team to practice.

The Que Phong Children and Youth Team is currently increasing its friendly matches. Photo: Sam Thanh

Player Lang Binh Minh, from the youth team, said: My house is in Quang Phong, 25km from town, but since being called up to the team, I have not missed a single practice session. In addition to being taught soccer skills by the coach, I have also learned a lot from my friends.

As the youngest player, Lo Hong Thinh - a member of the children's team, living in Hong Phong block, Kim Son town, said: Being selected for the team to participate in the Youth - Children's Football Tournament of Nghe An Newspaper Cup is a great honor for me. Therefore, although I have had to practice in hot conditions in the past few days, with many exercises given by the coach, I am still very happy, always trying to contribute beautiful plays.

The players aim to contribute beautiful plays at the Youth - Children Football Tournament - Nghe An Newspaper Cup. Photo: Sam Thanh

It is worth mentioning that accompanying the passion and enthusiastic training spirit of the players is the great encouragement and care from the parents whose children participate in the tournament. Many parents not only pick up and drop off their children every day but also bring gifts of home-grown fruits for the children to eat during break time and none other than the parents themselves are the strong supporters in the training sessions of the two teams.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam in Tien Phong commune, whose son is a player Nguyen Hai Son in the children's team, said: Every morning, at 5:30 am, father and son go to the training ground. Although the road is far away, more than 10km from home, but being able to pick up and drop off children and fuel their passion is not a problem. Because practicing football not only helps children improve their health, but also participating in the Youth - Children's Football Tournament - Nghe An Newspaper Cup, a tournament with a tradition of 25 years, is a great joy for the family and the children will have the opportunity to learn more.

Que Phong Children's Team. Photo: Sam Thanh

In fact, like many other border districts, in addition to training funds, training ground conditions are limited, and there are no gifted football classes or grassroots tournaments in the area to discover talent for the national team. However, Que Phong is still determined to establish two teams in two age groups to participate in the tournament.

Que Phong Youth Team. Photo: Sam Thanh

According to coach Nguyen Van Sau, to have two teams like today, the Organizing Committee has traveled to all the hamlets, villages, and schools in the area to find talented football players with good physical strength to put on the team. On that basis, a lesson plan will be created to organize training. From now until the opening of the tournament, friendly matches will be increased to rub shoulders and improve the competitive spirit of the players.

“With the attention of the district leaders, parents, as well as the enthusiasm of the staff and coaches, we believe that in addition to the goal of being a condition for more exchange and learning, both the Que Phong Youth and Children's teams will try their best to leave many impressions in this year's season,” said coach Nguyen Van Sau.

Sam Thanh